THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE 


•?&&& 


MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE 


A  PLAY  IN  FOUR  ACTS 


BY 


HENRY  ARTHUR  JONES 


/ftfto  J?or& 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

London,  MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Ltd. 

1905 

All  Rights  Reserved 


Copyright, 1905 
BY  HENRY  ARTHUR  JONES 


Set  up  and  elcctrotvped 
Published,  February,  igoJ 


THE    MASON    PRESS 
SYRACUSE   •    NEW   YORK 


7\ 

H 

PERSONS  REPRESENTED. 

Sir  Daniel  (Mr.  Justice)  Carteret. 

Lionel  Carteret,  his  adopted  son. 

Canon  Bonsey,  vicar  of  Sunningvvater. 

Mr.  Bulsom-Porter. 

Mr.  James  Risby. 

Mr.  FendiCK,  a  private  inquiry  agent. 

Adams,  butler  at  Lady  Eastncy's. 

Wilson,  butler  at  Sir  Daniel's. 

Mrs.  Dane. 

Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter. 

Janet  Colquhoun,  niece  to  Lady  Eastney. 

Lady  Eastney. 


The  whole  of  the  actio?!  takes  place  at  Sunningwater 
about  twenty-five  miles  from  London,  in  the  present  day 


8    x.       * 


ACT  I. 

Scene— The  Blue   Drawing- Room  at  Lady  Eastney's. 

Night. 


ACT  II. 

Scene— The    Same    on    an    Afternoon    Two   or   Three 

Weeks  Later. 


ACT  Til. 

Scene  — Library    at    Sir    Daniel's    on    the    Following 
Wednesday  Afternoon. 


\<T  IV. 
Scene— The  Same,  on  the  following  Saturday  Evening. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  playbill  of  the  first  per- 
formance of  Mrs.  Dane's  Defence  at  Wyndham's 
Theater,  London : 


On  Tuesday,  October  grH,  1900,  at  8.15, 
and  following  evenings  at  8.30, 
Will  be  presented  an  Original  Play,  in  Four  Acts,  en- 
titled, 

MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE. 

By  Henry  Arthur  Jones. 


Sir   Daniel    (Mr.    Justice) 

Carteret Mr.  Charles  Wyndham 

Lionel  Carteret  (his  adopted 

Son) Mr.  Alfred  Kendrick 

Canon  Bonsey Mr.  Alfred  Bishop 

Mr.  Bulsom-Porter  ....  Mr.  E.  W.  Garden 

Mr.  James  Risby Mr.  Charles  Thursby 

Fendick    (a    private    Inquiry 

Agent) Mr.  Stanley  Pringle 

Adams      (Butler     to     Lady 

Eastney) Mr.  Reginald  Walter 

Wilson  (Butler  to  Sir  Dan- 
iel)      Mr.  Charles  Terric 

Mrs.  Dane Miss  Lena  Ashwell 

Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter     .    .    .  Miss  Marie  Illington 

Janet  Colquhoun    ....  Miss  Beatrice  Irwin 

Lady  Eastney Miss  Mary  Moore 


SYNOPSIS  OF  SCENERY 


ACT   I 


Scene    the    blue    drawing-room    at    Lady    Eastney's — 
night. 


ACT  II 


Scene,  the  same  on  Saturday  afternoon  nearly  three 
weeks  later. 

ACT  HI 

Scene,   the    library   at   Sir    Daniel's   on   the    following 
Wednesday  afternoon. 

ACT   IV 

Scene,  the  same  on  the  following  Saturday  evening. 


The  action  takes  place  at  Sunningwater  about  twenty- 
five  miles  from  London. 

Time — The  Present. 


ACT  I 

Scene — The  Blue  Drawing-room  at  Lady  East- 
ney's,  Sunningwater.  A  very  brightly-furnished  room 
in  a  country  house  about  twenty  miles  from  London. 
A  conservatory  all  along  stage  at  back,  entered  by  doors. 
French  windows,  right,  opening  upon  veranda  and 
lawn.  Door  up  stage,  left,  leading  into  large  drawing- 
room.  This  door  opens  off  and  is  partly  covered  with 
a  curtain.  When  it  is  open,  a  buzz  of  conversation  as 
from  a  reception  is  heard.  Fireplace  down  stage,  left. 
Time :  after  dinner  on  a  night  in  July.  The  doors  are 
all  open.  A  violin  is  played  off  left,  as  if  it  were  two 
rooms  away.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter,  a  lady  of  forty-five, 
enters  left,  showing  great  irritation.  She  seats  herself, 
right,  on  sofa,  and  fans  herself.  A  moment  or  two  later, 
Mr.  Bulsom-Porter  enters  by  the  same  door.  He  is  a 
flabby,  affable,  easy-going  English  gentleman  about  fifty. 
He  looks  round  cautiously  to  see  that  he  is  not  followed, 
then  closes  the  door  softly  and  comes  up  to  his  wife. 

Bulsom-Porter.  (A  quiet,  drawling,  good- 
humoured  utterance.)  It's  a  mystery  to  me,  Hen- 
rietta, that  we  can't  arrange  to  celebrate  these  little 
domestic  battles  on  our  own  domestic  hearth. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     I  warn  you  that  if  you  continue 

a  i 


2  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  I 

to  pay  such  marked  attention  to  that  woman,  I 
shall  tell  the  whole  neighbourhood  her  history. 

Bul.-P.  You  will  please  hold  your  tongue 
about  Mrs.  Dane.  Jim  says  that  he  is  mistaken, 
and  that  she  is  not  the  lady  he  knew  in  Vienna. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  He  is  only  saying  that  to  shelter 
her.  The  fact  is,  she  is  leading  Jim  by  the  nose, 
the  same  as  she  is  leading  you  and  young  Carteret ; 
and  it  only  remains  to  be  seen  which  of  the  three 
will  be  her  victim. 

Bul.-P.  Well.  T  trust  I  shall  be  the  lucky  fel- 
low, but  I'm  afraid  the  odds  are  on*  Lionel  Car- 
teret, and  I  shall  come  in  a  bad  third. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  At  least  you  might  have  the 
good  taste  to  try  and  hide  your  infidelities  ! 

Bul.-P.  My  dear,  you  may  depend,  when  I 
have  any,  I  shall.  Now,  suppose  we  get  back  to 
the  others? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  You  wish  to  get  back  to  that 
woman  ? 

Bul.-P.  I  wish  to  get  back  to  Lady  Eastney 
and  the  other  guests. 

Mrs.  P.n..-P.     You  admire  this  Mrs.  Dane? 

Bul.-P.  (cordially,  going  off  left).  Very  much 
indeed. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (stopping  him).  Why  do  you 
admire  her? 

Bul.-P.  Because  she  has  a  pretty  face,  a  soft 
voice,  and  a  charming  manner. 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  3 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Of  course!  Mere  physical 
charms !  What  horribly  disgusting  minds  men 
must  have ! 

Bul.-P.  We  have!  Give  us  up!  Wash  your 
hands  of  us,  and  let  us  go  our  own  wicked  ways. 
(Going.) 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (still  stopping  him).  To  what 
extent  do  you  admire  her? 

Bul.-P.  To  the  extent  of  very  much  prefer- 
ring her  company  to  yours  when  you're  in  one  of 
these  unreasonable  jealous  fits.  Now,  will  you 
oblige  me  by  returning  to  the  drawing-room  ? 

(He  opens  the  door,  left.  Enter  by  it 
Mr.  James  Risky,  an  ordinary  Eng- 
lishman about  thirty-five.) 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  shall  not  speak  to  that 
woman 

Bul.-P.     Hush ! 

(Closes  door  sharply  after  Risby.) 

Risby.  My  dear  aunt,  I'm  leaving  for  Paris 
to-morrow  morning,  and  before  I  go  I  want  to 
put  you  right  on  a  little  matter. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     You  mean  Mrs.  Dane? 

Risby.  Exactly.  When  I  first  saw  her  at  Sir 
Daniel  Carteret's  a  fortnight  ago,  I  thought  I 
recognized    her 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     You  did  recognize  her. 

Risby.     I  was  mistaken. 


4  -MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  You  told  me  she  was  the  Miss 
Hindemarsh  who  was  connected  with  a  disgrace- 
ful scandal  in  Vienna  five  years  ago.  I  particu- 
larly watched  your  manner,  and  I'm  sure  you  were 
speaking  the  truth. 

Risby.  I  was  speaking  the  truth — as  I  sup- 
posed. And  therefore  my  manner  carried  con- 
viction. But  I  am  now  speaking  the  truth  when  I 
tell  you  T  was  mistaken.  I  trust  my  manner  car- 
ries equal  conviction. 

(Looking  at  her  vefy  fixedly.) 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (Looks  at  him  very  fixedly  for 
a  few  moments.)  No,  Jim;  I  do  not  and  cannot 
believe  you. 

Risky.  T'm  sorry.  However,  the  fact  re- 
mains, my  dear  aunt,  that  I  have  inadvertently  in- 
jured a  very  charming  woman 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Of  course!  A  very  charming 
woman  !  That's  the  reason  you  withdraw  your 
accusation. 

Risry.  I  made  no  accusation.  And  if  you 
have  repeated  what  I  told  you  in  the  strictest  con- 
fidence about  Mrs.  Dane,  I  must  beg  you  to  put 
the  matter  right  at  once.  For  if  you  give  me  as 
your  authority  I  shall  have  to  explain  that  I  was 
mistaken,  that  consequently  you  were  mistaken, 
and  further,  that  from  this  moment,  you  are  fully 
aware  that  you  are  mistaken. 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  5 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I'm  not  fully  aware  that  I'm 
mistaken. 

Bul.-P.  What  does  it  matter  whether  you're 
mistaken  or  no?  Suppose  Mrs.  Dane  is  Miss 
Hindemarsh,  what  then  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  What  then?  Do  you  consider 
her  fit  to  mix  in  the  society  of  vour  wife? 

Bul.-P.  I  daresay  she's  as  fit  as  nine  out  of 
ten  of  the  women  you  meet  if  the  truth  were  only 
known.  (To  Risby.)  What  was  the  exact  story 
of  this  Miss  Hindemarsh? 

Risby.  Oh,  the  eternal  trio!  Dramatis  per- 
sona, Mr.  Horace  Trent,  charming-,  devoted,  mid- 
dle-aged husband ;  Mrs.  Horace  Trent,  charming, 
devoted,  middle-aged  wife;  Felicia  Hindemarsh, 
charming,  devoted,  youthful  governess  to  their 
children  and  companion  to  Mrs.  Trent;  the  whole 
forming  a  truly  happy  family,  who  passed  the 
autumn  at  the  Italian  lakes,  and  returned  by 
Vienna  at  the  time  I  was  an  attache  there  five 
years  ago.  During  their  stay  in  Vienna,  charm- 
ing, middle-aged  wife  discovers  a  liaison  between 
charming,  middle-aged  husband  and  charming, 
youthful  governess ;  and  instead  of  sensibly  pack- 
ing off  missy  with  a  month's  salary  and  saying  no 
more  about  it,  charming,  middle-aged  wife,  being 
a  neurotic  creature,  commits  suicide.  Charming, 
middle-aged  husband  is  naturally  horrified,  and 
also  refrains  from  doing  the  sensible  thing — in 


6  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

fact,  goes  out  of  his  mind,  and  is  at  present  in  an 
asylum  in  the  north  of  England.  Missy  does  the 
sensible  thing  and  disappears.  The  story  is 
hushed  up  as  far  as  possible,  but  the  moral  re- 
mains :  "Upon  the  verge  of  such  a  tragedy  may 
any  one  of  us  poor  innocents  be  treading  at  this 
moment."  (Takes  out  watch.)  Adieu,  auntie. 
I  have  to  catch  an  early  train  to  town  to-morrow 
morning. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     You  are  sure  Mrs.  Dane  is  not 
Miss  Hindemarsh  ? 
RlSBY.     Quite  sure. 

(The  violin  ceases  and  there  is  some  ap- 
plause.) 
Mrs.    Bul.-P.     She    doesn't    resemble    Miss 
Hindemarsh  ? 

Risr.v  (after  a  pause).  There  is  a  slight  re- 
semblance. Perhaps  I  should  say  a  considerable 
resemblance. 

Mrs.  Bn..-P.  (after  looking  at  him  fixedly  for 
a  moment).     Jim,  I  shall  fully  inquire  into  this 

Mrs.  Dane's  antecedents 

Bul.-P.  What  for?  What  business  is  it  of 
yours  to  rake  up  old  scandals?  It's  five  years 
ago,  and 

Enter,  left.  Mrs.  Dane,  a  pretty,  soft-voiced,  dark 
little  woman  about  twenty-eight.  They  show 
some   embarrassment  at  her  entrance.      With 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  7 

some  little  hesitation  Mrs.  Dane  comes  up  to 
Mrs.  Bulsom -Porter. 

Mrs.  D.  Lady  Eastney  has  a  great  find  in  her 
new  violinist,  don't  you  think  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (coldly).  Really,  I  didn't  hear 
her.  (Going  left.)  Ah,  I  see  she  is  going  to 
play  again.  Alfred  (to  Bulsom -Porter)  I  very 
much  want  you  to  hear  this.  (Goes  off,  turning, 
comes  back  a  step.)  Alfred,  come  and  listen.  I 
want  to  decide  whether  we  shall  engage  this  lady 
for  our  garden  party. 

(She  waits  at  door,  left,  till  he  comes  up, 
then  goes  off.  Bulsom-Porter  fol- 
lows reluctantly,  exchanging  a  little 
shrug  and  grin  with  Risby.  After 
they  have  gone  off  there  is  a  little 
pause.  The  z'ioli>i  begins  agai)i  and 
the  buzz  of  conversation  in  the  next 
room  ceases.  Risby  goes  to  door, 
left,  closes  it.  -Mrs.  Dane  has  been 
watching  him  a  little  furtively.  Hav- 
ing closed  the  door  he  comes  vp  to 
her.) 

Risby.  My  dear  Mrs.  Dane,  when  one  has  in- 
advertently made  a  mistake,  the  best  way  is  to 
own  up  at  once. 

Mrs.  D.     Yes  ?     Who  has  made  a  mistake  ? 


8  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Risby.  I  have — a  stupid,  ill-natured,  idiotic 
mistake.     You  remember  when  I  first  met  you  ? 

Mrs.  D.  (glances  at  him  very  quickly).  At  Sir 
Daniel  Carteret's,  a  fortnight  ago. 

Risby  (after  a  slight  pause).  Yes.  Do  you 
know  I  thought  then  that  we  had  met  before  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Indeed?     Where? 

Risby.     In  Vienna  five  years  ago. 

Mrs.  D.     I  have  never  been  in  Vienna. 

Risby.  Xo.  The  second  time  I  saw  you  I 
was  convinced  I  was  mistaken.  But  in  the  mean- 
time— I  scarcely  know  how  to  confess  my  folly — 
I  had  thoughtlessly  told  my  aunt,  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter,  that  I  recognized  you. 

Mrs.  D.  I've  noticed  that  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter 
seems  to  avoid  me.  You  must  have  told  her  I 
was  some  very  wicked  person.  Whom  docs  she 
suppose  me  to  be  ? 

Risby.  You  have  some  resemblance  to  a  Miss 
Felicia  Hindemarsh 

Mrs.  D.     Who  is  she? 

Risby.  She  was  connected  with  an  unfortu- 
nate affair  in  Vienna  five  years  ago.      (Pause.) 

Mrs.  D.  And  does  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  really 
think  I  am  this — this  Miss  what's-her-name  ? 

Risby.     I  have  assured  her  you  are  not. 

Mrs.  D.  Thank  you.  What  would  you  advise 
me  to  do? 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  9 

Risby.  I  am  obliged  to  leave  for  Paris  to-mor- 
row morning  on  my  way  to  Switzerland.  If  you 
find  yourself  in  any  difficulty,  write  to  me  and  I 
will  reply  in  such  a  way  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt. 

Mrs.  D.     Thank  you.     You're  very  good. 

Risby.  Not  at  all.  I  can't  tell  you  how 
vexed  I  am  to  have  made  such  a  horrible  mistake. 
But  having  made  it,  I  thought  it  better  to  put  you 
on  your  guard.     Good-bye.     {Offering  hand.) 

Mrs.  D.     Good-bye. 

(He  goes  a  fezv  steps;  then  returns.) 

Risby.  Mrs.  Dane,  if  you  think  of  passing  the 
winter  away  from  Sunningwater,  I  have  the  most 
delightful  little  villa  near  Mentone — untenanted — 
I  should  be  pleased  to  place  it  at  your  disposal. 

Mrs.  D.  No,  thank  you.  Why  should  I  leave 
Sunningwater? 

Risby.  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  be- 
fore I  start  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Will  you  tell  Sir  Daniel  and  Mr.  Car- 
teret that  I  am  not  this  lady  ? 

Risby  (after  a  moment  or  two's  deliberation.) 
Believe  me,  it  will  be  better  to  let  the  matter  drop 
entirely,  unless  it  is  raised  by  others.  (He  goes 
to  door  left,  opens  it,  looks  off.)  Lady  Eastney 
is  busy.  I'll  slip  round  by  the  conservatory  and 
send  her  a  little  note  of  adieu.     Again,  good-bye. 


io  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Mrs.  D.  Good-bye.  I  may  always  reckon 
you  my  friend  ? 

Risby.  (Shakes  her  hand  warmly.)  Rely 
on  me. 

(Exit  by  conservatory.  She  watches  him 
off ;  then  in  anxious  deliberation  zvalks 
up  and  down  the  room  for  a  few  mo- 
ments.) 

Enter,  left,  Lionel  Carteret,  a  fresh,  bright,  en- 
thusiastic, clear-complexioncd  English  lad  of 
twenty-four.     He  closes  the  door  after  him. 

Lal.  Mrs.  Dane,  if  I  ask  you  a  question  will 
you  answer  me  truthfully  instead  of  telling  me  a 
polite  fib? 

Mrs.  D.  (after  shozcing  a  little  alarm).  Ask 
me  the  question. 

Lal.  You  seem  to  be  keeping  out  of  my  way, 
trying  not  to  give  me  a  chance  of  speaking  to  you 
alone.  (She  shows  delight  when  she  sees  his 
drift. )  And  the  other  night  at  our  place  you  were 
so  different :  you  seemed  to  like  my  company. 
Have  I  offended  you  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No. 

Lal.  Then  why  have  you  changed  ?  For  you 
have  changed. 

Mrs.  D.  Perhaps  I  was  a  little  foolish  last 
Wednesday. 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  n 

Lal.  No!  no!  You  don't  know  what  I  felt 
that  night !  I  waited  outside  your  window  till 
past  midnight,  then  I  tramped  about  the  country 
till  three,  then  the  birds  began  to  wake  and  sing 
and  I  whistled  back  their  songs  to  them ;  then  I 
went  down  to  the  river  and  had  a  swim ;  then  I 
came  back  to  the  house  and  plundered  the  larder 
and  ate  up  everything  in  it ;  then  I  went  to  the 
stables  and  saddled  Moon  Daisy,  and  galloped  her 
all  round  the  park ;  then  I  came  back  and  had 
another  breakfast,  and  then  I  kept  just  mad  with 
happiness  all  the  rest  of  the  day  ! 

Mrs.  D.     (She  has  listened  with  great  delight, 
keeping  her  face  away  from  him.)     I  see  I  was 
very  foolish. 
:    Lal.     No.     Why? 

Mrs.  D.  Believe  me,  a  friendship  between  us 
wouldn't  be  for  your  good. 

Lal.     It  isn't  friendship  I  want. 

Mrs.  D.  (Delighted.)  What  else  can  it  be? 
You're  twenty-four.  I'm  twenty-seven.  That 
means  many  years  between  us,  and  there  will  be 
more  as  we  grow  older. 

Lal  (shaking  his  head).  You  will  always  be 
the  same  age  that  I  am — the  very  same  day,  the 
very  same  hour. 

Mrs.  D.  (She  smiles  and  shakes  her  head.) 
But  you  know  nothing  of  me  ? 

Lal.     I  know  you  as  you  know  yourself. 


12  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Mrs.  D.  (a  little  cautiously).    Do  you?    How? 

Lal.     My  heart  has  told  me  all. 

Mrs.  D.  Perhaps  your  heart  has  spoken 
falsely. 

Lal.  You  shan't  persuade  me  that  you  aren't 
exactly  what  I  want  you  to  be. 

Mrs.  D.  (Shows  great  delight.)  Perhaps  my 
best  self  isn't  very  far  from  that.  But  then  we 
have  so  many  different  selves,  haven't  we? 

Lal.  You  have  but  your  own  self,  and  that  is 
the  one  I  know. 

Mrs.  D.  Then  that  is  the  particular  self  you 
must  always  believe  me  to  be.  It  will  do  no  harm 
when  we  are  parted. 

Lal.     Parted  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Did  yon  notice  Sir  Daniel  looking  at 
us  down  the  tabic  at  dinner?  He  was  thinking, 
"I  must  get  Lionel  away  from  Mrs.  Dane."  And 
he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  do  it. 

Lal.  He  won't  wish  to  part  us  when  he  knows 
how  much  I  love  you. 

Mrs.  D.     You  haven't  told  him? 

Lal.  No.  The  truth  is.  a  year  ago  I  thought 
1  was  in  love  with  Miss  Colquhoun.  But  Lady 
Eastney  and  my  father  said  she  was  too  young. 

Mrs.  D.     So  it  was  broken  off? 

Lal.  We  were  to  wait  a  year,  and  then  if  we 
were  both  of  the  same  mind,  we  were  to  be  for- 
mally engaged. 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  13 

Mrs.  D.  And  is  Miss  Colquhoun  of  the  same 
mind? 

Lal.  Janet?  I  don't  know.  I  only  know  it 
would  be  a  sin  to  be  engaged  to  her  while  I  love 
you  as  I  do. 

Mrs.  D.     I'm  afraid  of  Sir  Daniel. 

Lal.     Why? 

Mrs.  D.     I  suppose  his  reputation  frightens  me. 

Lal.  They  say  he's  the  pleasantest  judge  that 
ever  hanged  a  man. 

.  Mrs.  D.  Mr.  Risby  was  telling  us  about  some 
famous  cross-examination — something  about  a 
forger. 

Lal.  Oh,  Kettleby,  the  forger-murderer.  On 
the  morning  of  his  execution  Kettleby  said  that  to 
•"have  heard  my  father's  cross-examination  of  his 
witnesses  was  very  well  worth  being  hanged  for. 

Mrs.  D.  Then  do  you  wonder  I'm  rather 
afraid  of  Sir  Daniel  ? 

Lal.  You  needn't  be.  In  private  he's  the 
dearest,  kindest-hearted  man.  And  when  he 
knows  that  the  happiness  of  my  whole  life  depends 
upon  you,  I'm  sure  he  won't  withhold  his  consent. 

Mrs.  D.     He  isn't  your  own  father? 

Lal.  No,  but  if  he  were  I  couldn't  love  him 
more  than  I  do. 

Mrs.  D.  But  if  he  doesn't  think  me  suitable ;  if 
after  consideration  he  says  "No"? 

Lal.     Then  I'll  marry  you  and  disobey  him 


14  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Mrs.  D.     Are  you  sure  of  yourself  ? 

Lal.     Try  me. 

Mrs.  D.  (after  some  consideration).  No.  I'm 
very  proud  and  happy  to  be  loved  as  you  love  me. 
But  I  won't  come  between  you  and  your  father. 

Lal.     But  if  I  can  get  his  consent  ? 

Enter,  left.  Sir  Daniel  (Mr.  Justice)  Carteret, 
about  fifty-fire.  A  pause  of  embarrassment. 
Sir  Daniel  is  sauntering  off  at  back. 

Mrs.  D.     We  arc  missing  all  the  music 


SirD.  (Turns.)  It's  worth  hearing.  Made- 
moiselle Lemonier  is  just  going  to  play. 

Mrs.  D.     Thank  yon.     I  want  to  hear  her 

(Exit  Mrs.  Dan e.  left.     Lal  is  foil mring  her. ) 

SirD.  Lal!  (Lal  stops.  Sir  Daniel  closes 
the  door,  left.  Piano  faintly  heard  through  fol- 
lowing scene.)  I've  spoken  to  Sir  Robert  Jen- 
nings to  take  yon  out  as  assistant  to  him  on  this 
new  Egyptian  railway. 

Lal.  I'd  rather  not  leave  England  just  now, 
sir. 

Sir  D.  (very  firmly).     I  wish  it. 

Lal.     Why,  sir? 

Sir  D.  (very  affectionately  putting  his  hand  on 
Lal's  shoulder).  My  dear  boy,  to  stop  you  from 
making  an  unhappy  fool  of  yourself. 

Lal.     In  what  way,  sir? 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  15 

Sir  D.  When  I  came  up  to  London  to  read  for 
the  bar,  I  fell  very  desperately  in  love  with  my 
landlady's  sister,  a  lady  some  six  years  older  and 
some  two  stone  heavier  than  myself.  She  was  in 
the  mantle  business  and  wore  a  large  crinoline. 
I  used  to  call  her  my  Bonnie  Louisa.  My  father 
got  wind  of  it,  came  up  to  town  and  promptly 
shattered  our  applecart ;  sent  Bonnie  Louisa  flying 
to  Paris,  and  packed  me  off  on  a  judicial  commis- 
sion to  India. 

Lal.  I  don't  see  the  point  of  the  story,  sir. 
'Sir  D.  Twelve  years  after,  I  happened  to  be 
coming  down  the  Edgware  Road  on  a  Sunday 
morning,  and  I  met  Bonnie  Louisa  with  a  hus- 
band and  five  children,  sailing  along  the  pavement, 
all  in  their  Sunday  best. 

Lal.     Still,  I  don't  see  the  point,  sir. 

Sir  D.  I  did !  I  hurried  to  church  and  de- 
voutly thanked  Heaven  that  my  father  had  had  the 
sense  and  courage  to  do  for  me  what  I'm  trying 
to  do  for  you  to-night.  (JTcry  firmly.)  Now 
my  boy,  you'll  take  this  post  under  Sir  Robert  Jen- 
nings. 

Lal.  I  can't  leave  her,  sir.  I  love  her  so 
much. 

Sir  D.  But  a  year  ago  you  loved  Janet  Col- 
quhoun. 

Lal.  I  thought  I  loved  Janet.  I'm  sure  I  love 
Mrs.  Dane. 


16  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Sir  D.  My  dear  Lai,  in  a  year  you'll  be  sure 
you  love  somebody  else,  and  you'll  think  you  loved 
Mrs.  Dane.  (Lal  shakes  his  head.  Sir  Daniel 
shakes  his  more  rigorously  still.)  Yes,  yes,  my 
boy.  Bonnie  Louisa,  Janet  Colquhoun,  Juliet 
Capulet — the  divine  illusion  is  always  the  same — 
and  it  always  ends  unhappily. 

Lal.     It  always  ends  unhappily? 

Sir  D.  Or  in  bathos,  which  is  far  worse. 
Rather  than  that,  let  us  be  thankful  when  the  red- 
hot  plough-share  is  driven  right  through  our 
hearts,  or  when  we  have  the  pluck  to  drive  it 
through  ourselves.  Now,  Lal,  I  want  you  to  leave 
England  at  once. 

Lal.  I'm  very  sorry.  I  can't,  unless — unless 
Mrs.  Dane  goes  with  me.  (Sir  Daniel  looks  as- 
tonished and  indignant.)  I've  asked  her  to  be 
my  wife.     (Sir  DANIEL  stands  perplexed,  hurt.) 

Sir  D.     You  might  have  told  me  first,  Lal. 

Lal,  Forgive  me,  sir.  I  meant  to,  but  my 
heart  was  so  full,  and  the  words  slipped  out. 
You're  angry  with  me? 

Sir  D.  (very  kindly).  No,  my  boy.  (Pause.) 
Has  she  accepted  you  ? 

Lal.     She  will — if  you  consent. 

Sir  D.     How  long  have  you  cared  for  her? 

Lal.     From  the  very  first  day  I  met  her. 

Sir  D.  Two  months  ago.  Has  she  told  you 
anything  of  her  people  ? 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  17 

Lal.     No. 

Sir  D.     Circumstances  ?  position  ? 

Lal.     No. 

Sir  D.     Where  she  has  lived  all  her  life  ? 

Lal.  She  happened  to  say  that  she  had  spent 
some  years  in  Canada. 

Sir  D.  Come,  that's  something.  There  was  a 
Mr.  Dane — who  was  he? 

Lal.     I  don't  know. 

Sir  D.     Hasn't  she  mentioned  him? 

1 .  \l.     Naturally  not. 

Sir  D.  Naturally  not.  Still  there  was  a  Mr. 
Dane,  ami  he  remains  a  factor  in  the  situation. 
Has  she  told  you  her  age? 

Lal.     Twenty-seven. 

Sir  D.  Twenty-seven  ?  I  should  have  said  a 
year  or  so  older. 

Lal.     She  wouldn't  tell  me  a  lie. 

SirD.     No? 

Lal.  A  woman  doesn't  tell  a  lie  to  the  man 
she  loves.     Why  do  you  smile? 

Sir  D.  My  dear  Lal,  fifty  women  out  of  a  hun- 
dred have  no  notion  of  what  truth  means,  and 
don't  bother  about  it.  The  other  fifty  have  the 
rudiments  of  a  truth-sense  in  various  stages  of 
development,  and  will  generally  tell  the  truth 
where  their  own  interests  don't  clash.  But  in 
matters  of  love,  there  isn't  one  woman  in  a  hun- 
dred— there  isn't  one  woman  in  a  thousand,  that, 

B 


18  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

when  she's  put  to  it,  won't  lie  right  and  left,  up 
and  down,  backwards  and  forwards,  to  the  man 
she  loves,  for  the  man  she  loves,  with  the  man  she 
loves,  about  the  man  she  lo^es,  to  gain  her  ends, 
and  keep  the  man  she  loves. 

Lal.  You  have  a  very  low  opinion  of  women, 
sir. 

Sir  D.  I  have  a  very  high  opinion  of  them — 
in  matters  of  strategy. 

Lal.  You  won't  stand  in  my  way,  sir? 
Think,  sir.  has  there  never  been  a  time  in  your  life 
when  you  would  have  thrown  up  everything,  just 
for  the  right  of  calling  one  woman  your  own  ? 

Sir  D.  (is  moved  by  his  appeal;  takes  the  hand 
he  is  holding  out:  shakes  it  warmly.)  I  won't 
stand  in  your  way.  Lal. 

Lal.  Thank  you,  sir.  You've  always  been 
better  than  a  dozen  fathers  to  me. 

Sir  D.  I  won't  stand  in  your  way — unless 
th  fre's  some  good  reason  why  you  shouldn't 
marry  her. 

Lal.  What  reason  can  there  be  ?  You  don't 
know  anything  against  her  ? 

Sir  D.  Xo.  Still  it's  a  little  strange  that  she 
has  lived  in  Sunningwater  some  months  and  no- 
body seems  to  know  anything  about  her.  Have 
you  said  anything  to  Janet  ? 

Lal.     Xo.     I  thought  it  better  to  let  her  guess 


act  I  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  19 

— from  my  manner.     You  know,  sir,  there  was  no 
engagement  between  us. 

Sir  D.     I'm  sorry.     I  hope  this  business  won't 
twist  poor  little  Janet's  heartstrings. 

Enter,  left.  Lady  Eastney,  about  thirty,  bright, 
fashionable,  handsomely  dressed.  Lal  goes  up 
to  back. 


Lady  E.  Sir  Daniel!  Playing  truant  here! 
Everybody  will  be  putting  the  worst  interpreta- 
tion upon  it. 

Sir  D.     What  interpretation? 

Lady  E.  That  I've  accepted  you  at  last,  and 
that  you've  come  in  here  to  repent  and  think  of  the 
best  way  of  getting  out  of  it.  (Calls  to  Lal.) 
Lionel!  (He  conies  dozen.)  The  young  people 
are  getting  up  a  dance !  Look  !  Janet  is  posing 
against  that  pillar  in  an  attitude  of  maiden-medita- 
tion fancy-free.  Go  and  ask  her  to  dance  with 
you. 

Lal  (confused).  I'm  very  sorry,  Lady  East- 
ney— will  you  tell  her,  sir?  And  will  you  tell 
Miss  Colquhoun  ? 

(Exit  hurriedly,  right.  Lady  Eastney 
looks  at  Sir  Daniel  for  an  explana- 
tion.) 

Sir  D.  It  seems  that  Lal  didn't  know  his  own 
mind  last  year. 


20  MRS    DANES  DEFENCE  act  i 

Lady  E.  He  s  going  to  throw  over  my  Janet 
for  Mrs.  Dane? 

Sir  D.  I'm  very  sorry  (looking  left).  Here's 
Janet  coming  to  look  for  him.  I  think  you  should 
tell  her. 

Lady  E.     Help  me. 

Enter  Janet  Colquiioun,  about  eighteen,  with  a 
slight  Scotch  accent .  she  saunters  towards  right. 

Lady  E.     Aren't  you  going  to  dance,  Janet? 
Janet.     I'm  thinking  I  won't  to-night. 
Lady   E.     But   what  are   all   the* young  men 
doing?    Hasn't  anybody  asked  you  ? 

Janet.  Oh,  I'm  not  standing  out  for  want  of 
partners,  but  I  thought  there  were  plenty  of  them 
in  there  to  tumble  over  each  other,  so  I'd  just  get 
a  breath  of  cool  air  outside. 

(Going  right.  Lal  Carteret  passes  out- 
side and  takes  no  notice  of  her.  She 
flushes  up.  shows  for  a  moment  that 
she  is  very  much  hurt,  then  conquers 
her  feelings,  and  with  great  effort  con- 
trols herself  during  the  remainder  of 
the  scene.) 

Lady  E.  Janet  darling,  go  and  have  a  dance, 
and  don't  think  anything  more  about  him. 

Janet.  Him?!  Him?!  Which  him?  (Point- 
ing off  to  zvhere  Lionel  Carteret  has  just  gone 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  21 

by.  Very  contemptuously.)  That  him?  Oh, 
there  are  plenty  of  other  "hims"  in  the  world,  and 
I'll  have  a  good  conceit  of  myself  and  not  trouble 
about  any  of  them. 

Lady  E.  (very  tenderly).  Then  you've  for- 
gotten all  about  your  little  flirtation  a  year  ago  ? 

Janet.     Flirtation  ? 

Lady  E.     With  Mr.  Carteret. 

Janet.  A  year's  a  long  time,  isn't  it?  (To 
Sir  Daniel.)  I  suppose  Mr.  Carteret  has  for- 
gotten all  about  it  too.     Has  he  ? 

Sir  D.  I'm  afraid  Lai  is  very  much  like  many 
other  young  men. 

Janet.  You  mean  he  makes  love  to  every  girl 
he  meets,  and  then  breaks  his  word  to  all  of  them? 

Sir  D.  No  !  No !  But  perhaps  he  was  a  little 
too  hasty  a  year  ago. 

Janet.     Is  there  any  harm  done? 

Sir  D.  Not  unless  you  have  taken  it  too  seri- 
ously. 

Janet.     Didn't  he  wish  me  to  take  it  seriously  ? 

Sir  D.     He  did  at  the  time. 

Janet.     But  now  he  doesn't  ? 

Sir  D.  He's  grieving  to  think  that  he  has 
caused  you  pain. 

Janet.  Poor  fellow !  Poor  fellow !  Do  call 
him  in  and  tell  him  that  I'll  try  and  not  break  my 
heart  over  him.  (Lal  passes  the  door  of  ver- 
anda.)    Mr.  Carteret.     (Lal  enters,  right.)     Sir 


22 


MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 


Daniel  and  auntie  have  just  reminded  me  that  we 
were  very  foolish  a  year  ago.  I've  seen  so  little 
of  you  lately  that  I'd  forgotten  all  about  it.  Per- 
haps you've  been  grieving  about  it 

Lal.     Janet ! 

Janet.  Ah,  you  have  !  You  won't  take  it  too 
much  to  heart  if  I  ask  you  not  to  think  anything 
more  of  our — our  flirtation?  I  was  only  seven- 
teen. At  seventeen  one  may  change  one's  mind. 
I've  changed  my  mind,  Mr.  Carteret. 

Lal.  If  I've  caused  you  any  pain  you'll  for- 
give me? 

Janet.  Forgive  you  ? !  And  I  thought  you'd 
be  just  breaking  your  heart  for  me!  Aren't  you 
breaking  your  heart  ? 

Lal.  Miss  Colquhoun,  I  know  I've  behaved 
badly. 

Janet  (mocking  a  Scotch  peasant's  dialect). 
Dinna  fash  yourself.  Ye're  a  braw  laddie,  but  I'll 
just  mak  up  my  mind  to  do  without  ye.  (A  little 
contemptuous  curtsey  to  him.)  Now  !  Will  you 
dance  with  me  just  once  for  auld  lang  syne,  and 
then  I'll  not  trifle  with  your  feelings  any  longer, 
Mr.  Carteret? 

Lal.     If    you    wish.      (Gives    her    his    arm. 
Exeunt,  left.) 

Lady  E.     I'm  very  angry  with  Lionel. 
Sir  D.     Why  ? 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  23 

Lady  E.  For  not  seeing  where  his  happiness 
lies,  after  I'd  planned  it  out  so  carefully  for  him. 

Sir  D.  Is  there  any  knowing  where  married 
happiness  lies  for  other  people,  or  even  for  our- 
selves ? 

Lady  E.  Apparently  not.  The  happiest  mar- 
riage I've  ever  known  was  between  my  old  gov- 
erness of  forty-six,  and  a  young  piano-tuner  of 
twenty-two.  We  all  went  down  on  our  knees,  and 
begged  her  to  see  the  monstrous  unsuitability  of 
it ;  but  she  wouldn't !  She  would  marry  the  man, 
and  the  result  is  she  has  lived  happily  every  after- 
wards ! 

Sir  D.  Give  me  your  advice.  Lai  wants  to 
marry  this  Mrs.  Dane 

Lady  E.  I  can't  quite  forgive  her  for  taking 
him  away  from  Janet,  and  I  can't  quite  forgive 
Lionel. 

Sir  D.  Don't  be  hard  on  him.  Help  me  to  do 
the  best  for  the  boy.  I  don't  want  him  to  make  a 
mess  of  his  life  as  I've  done  of  mine. 

Lady  E.     Have  you  made  a  mess  of  your  life? 

Sir  D.     Yes,  so  far  as  women  are  concerned. 

Lady  E.  H'm.  (Looks  at  him  very  critically. ) 
You  seem  to  have  thrived  very  well  on  it.  It  can't 
have  been  a  very  unpleasant  process.  I  wonder 
how  many  poor  women  have  been  sacrificed  in  the 
— scrimmage  ? 

Sir  D.     None,  I  hope.     At  least — (deep  sigh) 


24  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

I've  had  one  great  love  story.  Shall  I  tell  you 
about  it? 

Lady  E.  I  should  love  to  hear,  if  it  isn't  too 
sad  and  too  sacred. 

Sir  D.  I've  never  told  this  to  anyone.  I 
wouldn't  tell  it  to  you  except — except  that  you 
know  I  would  gladly  give  you  the  right  to  ask  me 
for  some  knowledge  of  my  past  attachments. 

Lady  E.  I  have  already  the  right  to  ask  you, 
the  right  of  friendship,  and  the  right  of  a  woman's 
curi<  sity.  ( Goes  to  door,  left,  looks  off. )  I  think 
I  can  leave  them  for  five  minutes,  and  I've  really 
done  my  duty  to  them  to-night.  (Closes  door, 
left.)  Now,  begin  !  Don't  spare  yourself.  Don't 
shock  me  ;  and  skip  nothing  of  vital  interest. 

Sir  D.  We'll  skip  the  first  thirty-five  years  of 
my  life. 

Lady  E.     Were  they  all  barren  of  love  stories  ? 

Sir  D.  None  of  them,  after  fifteen.  But 
what's  a  boy's  love? 

Lady  E.     That's  what  poor  Janet  is  thinking. 

Sir  D.  When  I  was  just  getting  into  com- 
fortable practice  I  was  thrown  very  much  into  the 
company  of  the  wife  of  one  of  my  clients.  We 
grew  to  love  each  other  deeply,  passionately,  al- 
most before  we  were  aware  of  it.  We  owned  our 
love,  recognized  its  hopelessness,  and  resolved  to 
part.  We  parted,  and  endured  some  months  of 
banishment  worse  than  death  ;  then  we  met  again, 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  25 

and  after  a  few  mad  weeks  we  determined  to  make 
our  own  happiness  in  our  own  world.  She  ar- 
ranged to  leave  her  home  and  to  meet  me  at  Liver- 
pool by  a  certain  train.  I  had  our  passages  taken, 
and  I  remember  waiting  for  her,  waiting,  waiting, 
waiting.  She  never  came.  I  went  back  to  town 
and  found  a  letter  from  her.  Her  boy,  her  only 
child,  was  dangerously  ill  and  she  had  stayed  to 
nurse  him.  She  was  a  deeply  religious  woman, 
though  she  loved  me,  and  she  had  vowed  to  God 
that  if  her  child's  life  was  spared  she  would  never 
see  me  again.  I  was  heart-broken,  but  I  sent  her 
a  message  that  she  had  done  right.  The  boy's 
life  was  spared.  I  never  saw  her  again.  In  a 
f'-w  months  she  was  dead.  I  had  a  big  bout  or 
two  of  dissipation,  then  I  pulled  myself  together 
and  worked  hammer  and  tongs,  day  and  night,  at 
my  profession.  I  became  successful,  and  met 
other  women ;  had  my  affairs  with  them — I  won't 
call  them  love-affairs — some  of  them  graceful, 
some  of  them  romantic,  none  of  them  quite  de- 
grading, but  all  of  them  empty  and  heartless. 
And  so  I  frittered  away  what  affections  I  had  left 
in  cheap  and  facile  amours ;  and  all  the  while  her 
tender  ghost  was  standing  beside  me,  whispering, 
"This  isn't  love !  This  isn't  love  !  You'll  never 
love  again  as  you  loved  me !"  I've  been  success- 
ful and  happy  after  a  fashion  ;  but  there  has  never 
been  a  moment*  since  I  lost  her  when  I  wouldn't 


26  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

have  cheerfully  bartered  every  farthing,  every 
honour,  every  triumph  I've  scored  in  my  profes- 
sion, to  stand  again  on  that  platform  at  Liverpool 
and  know  that  she  was  coming  to  me. 

Lady  E.     My  poor  friend ! 

Sir  D.  Her  husband  died,  rather  badly  off, 
fifteen  years  ago.  I  took  the  boy,  gave  him  my 
name,  and  made  him  my  own.  I've  been  a  better 
man  for  having  him,  and  I  love  him — I've  never 
allowed  Lai  to  see  how  much  I  love  him — I  don't 
think  I  quite  know  myself,  but  the  boy  is  very  dear 
to  me,  very,  very  dear. 

Lady  E.  I  should  like  to  have  been  that 
woman.     You've  made  me  very  jealous  of  her. 

SirD.     Why? 

Lady  E.  We  all  long  to  be  the  object  of  an 
undying  love,  and  it  so  seldom  comes  off. 

Sir  D.  Curious  I  should  be  telling  you  all  this, 
and  at  the  same  time  asking  you  to  be  my  wife. 

Lady  E.  My  dear  friend,  I've  never  been  so 
near  accepting  you  as  I  am  at  this  moment. 

SirD.    Will  you? 

Lady  E.  Now,  if  you  had  that  same  love  to 
offer  me 

Sir  D.  I  haven't,  and  I  care  for  you  too  much 
to  deceive  you.  But  I  can  give  you  a  very 
genuine  attachment,  and  perfect  fidelity.  If  I 
were  to  pretend  to  offer  you  more  I  should  be 
wronging  you.     W'ell? 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  27 

Lady  E.     Will  you  keep  the  offer  open  ? 

Sir  D.     As  long  as  you  please. 

Lady  E.  You  shouldn't  say  that.  You  should 
make  me  fear  I'm  going  to  lose  you  if  I  don't  say 
"Yes"  this  moment. 

Sir  D.  I'm  past  fifty.  You're  not  thirty. 
There's  no  chance  of  your  losing  me.     Well  ? 

Lady  E.  We'll  let  the  matter  stay  over  again, 
if  you  don't  mind? 

Sir  D.  I  can  wait.  Meantime,  you  under- 
stand now  why  I  want  the  boy  to  make  a  happy 
marriage.     Will  you  help  me? 

Lady  E.  Yes,  with  all  my  heart.  What  have 
you  done  so  far  ? 

Sir  D.  Tried  to  laugh  him  out  of  it.  When  I 
found  that  was  impossible  I  promised  him  he 
should  marry  her  if  we  found  she  was  suitable. 
What  do  you  know  of  her  ? 

Lady  E.     Nothing.    I  met  her  at  the  Canon's. 

Enter,  left,  very  cautiously,  Canon  Bonsey,  a 
rather  jovial,  good-natured  clergyman  about 
sixty;  shrewd,  plausible,  worldly.  He  enters 
very  cautiously,  and  closes  the  door  behind  him. 

Canon  B.  Dear  Lady  Eastney,  may  I  intrude 
for  one  moment?  {He  comes  up  rather  slozvly 
and  mysteriously.)  Do  you  know,  I'm  rather 
afraid  we  are  going  to  have  another  scandal  ? 


28  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 

Lady  E.  (quickly).  I  don't  know  anything 
about  it,  Canon.  I  won't  know  anything  about  it. 
And  above  all,  I  decline  to  give  a  certificate  of  in- 
jured innocence  to  any  young  person  who  misses 
her  last  train.  Now  (inclining  her  car  to  him), 
gently  breathe  the  name  of  the  minx  and  her  vic- 
tim and  do,  please,  keep  me  out  of  it  this  time. 

Canon  B.  Dear  Lady  Eastney,  you  may  rely 
I  shall  do  my  best  to  keep  everybody  out  of  it — es- 
pecially myself.  You  haven't  heard  any  whisper 
about  one  of  your  guests  this  evening? 

Lady  E.     Xo — whom? 

Canon  15.     Mrs.  Dane. 

(Sir    Daniel  and   Lady    Eastney   ex- 
change looks.) 

Lady  E.     What  of  her? 

Canon  B.     Ask  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter. 

Lady  E.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter !  How  is  it 
that  everything  horrid  in  this  neighbourhood  ra- 
diates to  and  from  that  woman  !  What  is  she  say- 
ing, and  how  does  she  know  ? 

Canon  B.  It  seems  her  nephew,  Mr.  Risby, 
told  her  that  Mrs.  Dane  was  connected  with  a  very 
ugly  scandal  in  Vienna  some  years  ago. 

Lady  E.  Where  is  Mr.  Risby?  Will  you  ask 
him  to  come  to  me  ? 

Enter  Adams,  left,  with  letter  on  tray  which  he 
brings  to  Lady  Eastney. 


act  i  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  29 

Adams.  From  Mr.  Risby,  my  lady.  He  has 
just  gone. 

(Lady   E.-lStney   takes  letter,    reads   it. 
Exit  Adams.) 

Sir  D.  You  introduced  Mrs.  Dane  to  us  all, 
Canon. 

Canon  B.  Yes.  She  came  to  church.  Of 
course  I  called  on  her.  I  found  she  played  the 
piano  divinely,  and  had  been  living  in  Winchester 
for  some  months,  and  knew  some  very  nice  people 
there  whom  I  knew  ;  and  above  all  was  a  very  de- 
lightful lady.  And  when  a  delightful  lady  comes 
to  church,  and  subscribes  regularly  to  all  the 
parish  charities,  and  has  a  perfect  mastery  of  the 
piano,  and  is  evidently  a  very  dear  sweet  creature 
in  every  way,  and  a  gentlewoman,  I  don't  think 
it's  the  duty  of  a  clergyman  to  ask  her  for  refer- 
ences as  if  she  were  a  housemaid,  eh  ? 

Sir  D.  (to  Lady  Eastney).  Does  Risby  men- 
tion anything  of  this  ? 

Lady  E.  (zvho  has  been  reading  Risby's  letter.) 
No.  He  only  sends  me  a  word  of  adieu.  He  has 
gone  to  town  to-night  on  his  way  to  Switzerland. 

Sir  D.  (to  Canon).  Then  you  have  no  knowl- 
edge of  Mrs.  Dane,  whether  she  is  a  desirable  ac- 
quaintance? 

Canon  B.  A  woman  with  such  a  face,  and 
such  a  figure,  and  such  a  divine  musician,  cannot 
be   an    undesirable    acquaintance.     At  the   same 


3° 


MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 


time,  as  she  is  to  take  a  stall  at  the  bazaar,  and  the 
duchess  is  to  open  it,  I  should  like  to  get  this  little 
matter  cleared  up.  Our  dear  duchess  is  not  a 
latitudinarian  in  these  matters.  What  had  we  bet- 
ter do  ? 

Sir  D.  You  are  the  clergyman  of  the  parish, 
and  responsible  for  her  introduction  here. 
Oughtn't  you  to  call  on  her  and  get  to  know  her 

history? 

Canon  B.  My  dear  Sir  Daniel,  what  would 
happen?  If  there  is  anything  shady  in  her  past 
life  she  would  omit  to  mention  it.  With  my  easy, 
ingenuous  nature  I  should  be  a  mere  baby  in  her 
hands.  No,  I  think  this  is  a  case  where  your  legal 
experience  might  be  of  service,  eh  ? 

Sir  D.  If  she  were  in  the  witness-box  it  might ; 
but  she  isn't. 

Canon  B.  Or,  as  it  is  essentially  a  woman's 
question,  and  as  she  is  your  guest,  Lady  Eastney, 
perhaps  you  might  venture  gently — gently  to 

Lady  E.  Invite  a  lady  to  dinner,  and  then  ask 
her  whether  she  is  fit  to  mix  with  my  guests? 

Canon  B.  H'm !  It's  very  awkward.  What 
is  to  be  done  ? 

Lal  enters  left  door  quickly.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment Mrs.  Dane  appears  in  conservatory,  left, 
behind  a  shrub,  and  gently  moves  towards  cen- 
tre, apparently  much  engaged  with  the  plants 


act  i  .MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  31 

Lal  (quick,  indignant).  Lady  Eastney,  Mrs. 
Bulsom-Porter  is  circulating  a  most  malicious 
story  about  Mrs.  Dane.  I  beg  you  to  inquire  into 
the  matter.  (To  Sir  Daniel.)  Sir,  you  will 
help  us  ? 

Sir  D.  (in  a  hurried  whisper).  Not  here,  not 
now.     We  mustn't  have  a  scene  here.     Hush  ! 

(Pointing  to  Mrs.  Dane  in  conservatory. 
She  comes  to  centre  door,  enters,  and 
comes  down  to  them.  Canon  Bon- 
sey  goes  off  quickly,  door  right.) 

Sir  D.  (looking  off,  left).  Ah,  Lal,  there  is  Sir 
Robert.  Now  we  can  get  a  word  with  him  about 
the  railway. 

Lal.     But,  sir 

Sir  D.  (/';/  a  lozv  tone,  very  peremptory,  and  tak- 
ing Lal's  arm).  If  you  please,  Lal.  If  you 
please.  ( Takes  Lal  off,  left. ) 

Lady  E.  They  are  serving  a  little  supper  for 
the  late  guests.     Won't  you  come  and  have  some? 

Mrs.  D.  No,  thank  you.  I'm  a  little  faint. 
I'll  stay  here. 

(Sits.  Lady  Eastney  goes  to  door,  left, 
looks  back,  returns  to  Mrs.  Dane.) 

Lady  E.     Is  anything  the  matter  ? 
Mrs.  D.     No  !     No !     What  should  there  be? 
Lady  E.   (with  meaning).     Can  I  be  of  any 
service  to  you  ? 


32 


MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  i 


Mrs.  D.  In  what  way?  (Pause — the  two 
women  look  at  each  other. )  I'm  only  a  little  faint. 
Please  don't  wait. 

Lady  E.  I'll  send  my  maid  to  you.  Let  me 
know  if  there  is  anything  further  I  can  do. 

(Exit  door  left.  Mrs.  Dane  watches  her 
off  furtively,  then,  after  a  second  or 
two,  rises,  creeps  round  at  back  to  be- 
hind the  curtain  hanging  over  door, 
left,  peeps  through,  watching,  listen- 
ing, with  drawn,  frightened  face. 
Laughter,  buzz  and  hum  of  conversa- 
tion, strains  of  distant  dance  music.) 

CURTAIN 

i  Nearly  three  weeks  pass  between  Acts  I  and 
ID 


ACT  II 

Scene — The  same.  Afternoon.  Discover  Janet  seated 
on  sofa  at  fancy  work.  She  throws  down  the  work, 
bursts  into  tears,  then  dries  them,  goes  up  to  looking- 
glass  on  wall,  stands  looking  at  herself. 


Janet  (to  herself  in  the  glass.)  Ah,  you  poor 
coward!  Aren't  you  ashamed  of  yourself?  To 
*be  troubling  about  a  man  who  has  had  the  bad 
taste  to  throw  you  over  ?  Have  a  better  opinion 
of  yourself,  my  poor  Janet !  There  are  as  good 
fish  in  the  sea  as  ever  came  out  of  it !  And  a  bet- 
ter man  than  Lionel  Carteret  will  come  and  take 
a  fancy  to  your  bonnie,  bonnie  face !  So  dry  your 
eyes  and  bide  a  wee  bit,  my  lassie. 

Enter  Lady  Eastney.     She  comes  up  to  Janet 
and  looks  in  her  face. 

Lady  E.     Janet. 

Janet  (faces  her,  picks  up  her  work) .     Auntie, 
I'm  just  sick  of  staying  in  England,  and  wasting 

c  33 


34  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

my  life  in  such  trumpery  as  this  (shaking  her  zvork 
ferociously)  so  I'm  going  straight  out  to  India  ! 

Lady  E.     India? 

Janet.  The  Indian  women  are  fearfully  de- 
moralized and  ignorant ;  they  don't  know  how  to 
treat  their  babies,  and  when  the  poor  wee  mites 
come  into  the  world  they  just  perish  by  the  score, 
for  the  want  of  a  sensible  body  to  teach  the 
mothers  how  to  use  them. 

Lady  E.  My  dear  Janet,  if  Providence  has 
neglected  to  endow  the  Indian  women  with  the 
common  instincts  of  maternity,  I  question  if  you're 
quite  qualified  to  supply  the  deficiency. 

Janet.  Mrs.  Patterson  is  organizing  a  mission 
to  go  there  to  doctor  and  civilize  the  poor  crea- 
tures, so  I'll  just  go  out  and  help  her  to  do  for 
them. 

Lady  E.     Janet,  I  knew  you  were  fretting 

Janet.     What  will  I  be  fretting  about  ? 

Lady  E.     Lionel  Carteret. 

Janet  (bursts  into  laughter).  Oh,  my  poor 
little  Auntie  (kissing  her),  I'd  clean  forgotten  all 
about  the  man. 

Lady  E.     Janet,  tell  me  the  truth 

Janet.  The  truth  is,  Auntie,  that  if  Mr.  Lionel 
Carteret  were  lying  down  there  on  the  floor  and 
begging  me  to  pick  him  up,  I  wouldn't  take  the 
trouble  to  stoop  down  to  him,  or  to  any  other  man- 
body  in  the  world  !     There  ! 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE 


35 


Enter  Adams,  left,  announcing  Sir  Daniel  and 
Mr.  Lionel  Carteret.  Enter  Sir  Daniel 
and  Lal.     Exit  Adams. 

Janet.  How-dye-do,  Sir  Daniel ?  How-d'ye- 
do,  Mr.  Carteret? 

Lal  (confused).     How-d'ye-do? 

(Janet  takes  up  her  hat  which  is  lying  on 
the  chair,  goes  off  at  back,  swinging  it 
with  an  affectation  of  carelessness. 
Lady  Eastney  has  shaken  hands  with 
Sir  Daniel  and  Lal.) 

Sir  D.     Well,  how  do  we  stand  now  ? 

Lady  E.  The  Bulsom-Porters  are  coming  over 
to  meet  you,  and  I've  asked  the  Canon  to  look  in. 
They'll  be  here  directly.     (  Taking  out  watch. ) 

Sir  D.     And  then  what  are  we  to  do  ? 

Lady  E.     Talk  it  over. 

Sir  D.  Don't  you  think  there's  been  quite 
enough  talking  it  over  the  last  fortnight  ? 

Lady  E.  We  haven't  had  your  assistance. 
Candidly,  what  is  your  opinion  ? 

Sir  D.  I  have  none.  I'm  waiting  for  facts. 
Have  you  heard  from  Risby  ? 

Lady  E.     Not  a  word. 

Sir  D.     What  did  you  say  to  him  ? 

Lady  E.  I  asked  him  to  tell  me  in  the  strictest 
confidence  all  he  knew  about  Mrs.  Dane. 

Sir  D.     And  he  hasn't  replied  ? 


36  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Lady  E.  It's  only  five  days  ago  that  I  wrote. 
Perhaps  my  letter  hasn't  reached  him. 

Sir  D.     Rather  strange,  isn't  it? 

Lal  (indignantly).  It's  much  more  strange 
that  everybody  should  be  saying  and  believing  the 
worst  of  an  innocent  woman  without  a  shadow  of 
proof. 

Sir  D.  Without  a  shadow  of  proof  that  she  is 
innocent. 

Lal.  I  thought,  sir,  that  English  law  assumed 
everybody  to  be  innocent  until  he  is  proved  to  be 
guilty. 

Sir  D.  I  do  not  assume  Mrs.  Dane  is  guilty — 
or  innocent.     I  only  say  I  don't  know. 

Lal.  Mrs.  Dane  has  done  exactly  what  an  in- 
nocent woman  naturally  would  do. 

Sir  D.  Ah,  pardon  my  inexperience,  my  dear 
Lal.    What  does  an  innocent  woman  naturally  do? 

Lal.  She  treats  all  slander  with  silent  con- 
tempt. She  knows  her  life  will  stand  the  test  of 
inquiry,  and  therefore  she  doesn't  stoop  to  answer 
calumny. 

Sir  D.     Meantime  everybody  cuts  her. 

Lal.  Lady  Eastney,  if  you  were  in  Mrs. 
Dane's  place  how  would  you  have  acted  ? 

Sir  D.     Supposing  you  were  innocent? 

Lady  E.  (after  a  little  pause).  I  think  I  should 
have  acted  exactly  as  Mrs.  Dane  has  done. 

Sir  D.     Supposing  you  were  guilty? 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  37 

Lady  E.     I  don't  know. 

Sir  D.  If  you  were  guilty  don't  you  think  you 
would  try  to  act  exactly  in  the  same  way  ?  And 
whether  you  succeeded,  would  depend,  not  so 
much  upon  your  guilt  or  your  innocence,  as  upon 
your  self-control,  and  how  far  you  had  cultivated 
the  woman's  gift  for  acting.  Guilt  is  the  natural 
and  necessary  mimic  of  innocence  as  hypocrisy  is 
the  natural  and  necessary  mimic  of  virtue;  and 
just  as  nature  is  always  ready  to  lend  a  mimic- 
skin  of  protection  to  any  beast  or  bird  or  insect 
that  needs  its  shelter,  so  she  is  always  ready  to 
lend  the  sheepskin  of  innocence  to  any  criminal 
that's  clever  enough  to  draw  it  over  him. 

Lal.  Criminal !  You  are  speaking,  sir,  of  the 
lady  whom  I  have  asked  to  be  my  wife. 

Sir  D.  Not  at  all.  I  am  speaking  generally. 
For  all  I  know,  Mrs.  Dane  is  the  most  innocent 
and  virtuous  lady  in  the  world. 

Lal.     But  you  don't  believe  she  is  ? 

Sir  D.  I  have  no  means  of  judging.  The  lady 
knows  that  her  reputation  is  being  torn  to  rags. 
She  doesn't  put  the  matter  in  her  lawyer's  hands. 
She  avoids,  or  seems  to  avoid,  meeting  me ;  she 
gives  you  a  few  very  vague  details  of  her  past  life, 
and  then  wraps  herself  in  a  mantle  of  injured  in- 
nocence  

Lal.  {very  indignantly).  Injured  innocence! 
{To  Sir  Daniel).     I  asked  you  for  your  help  to 


38  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

clear  the  woman  who  is  dearer  to  me  than  my  life 
from  a  lying  slander,  and  you  insinuate  that  she  is 
a  criminal  and  a  hypocrite !  (Seizes  his  hat.)  I 
will  never  again  ask  you  for  the  smallest  favour 
as  long  as  I  live.  I  give  you  back  your  name,  and 
I  take  my  own  to  offer  it  to  her.  Good-day,  Sir 
Daniel  Carteret.     (Going  off.) 

LadyE.  Lionel!  (He doesn't  stop.)  Lionel! 
(He  half  stops.)  Lionel!  (He  stops.)  You 
want  Mrs.  Dane's  reputation  to  be  cleared.  Don't 
you  think  Sir  Daniel  is  the  best  man  in  England 
to  help  you  ?  For  her  sake  don't  "quarrel  with 
him.  Don't  throw  over  the  best  of  fathers  and 
the  best  of  friends  in  a  moment  of  temper. 
(Takes  his  hat  from  him.)  Sir  Daniel,  I  think 
you  are  a  little  hard  on  Mrs.  Dane.  Lionel  doesn't 
want  a  legal  machine  to  grind  out  the  evidence. 
He  wants  a  friend  to  stand  by  him  and  the  woman 
he  loves.  Come,  shake  hands  with  him  and 
promise  you'll  help  him.     (She  joins  their  hands.) 

Sir  D.     Forgive  me,  my  dear  boy.     I  didn't 
mean  to  wound  you. 

Lal.     Forgive  me,  sir.     I  can't  bear  that  any- 
one should  speak  ill  of  her. 

Lady  E.     And  now  let  us  put  our  heads  to- 
gether and  set  to  work  to  do  our  best  to  clear  her. 

Sir  D.     Ah  !     How  can  we  do  that  ? 

Lal.     You  soon  cleared  that  poor  governess 
who  was  accused  of  stealing  the  bracelet ! 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  39 

Sir  D.  Because  she  came  to  me  and  told  me  a 
plain,  simple  story  which  I  was  able  to  verify. 

Lady  E.  I'll  write  a  note  to  Mrs.  Dane  and  ask 
her  to  step  over;  then  I'll  advise  her  to  tell  her 
story  to  you,  and  put  herself  entirely  in  your  hands. 

Sir  D.     That  may  be  very  unkind  to  her. 

Lady  E.     Why  ? 

Sir  D.  For  the  past  fortnight  I  have  kept 
away  from  Mrs.  Dane,  I  have  tried  to  keep  Lai 
away  from  her,  because  we  have  not  a  single  fact 
to  go  upon.  Risby,  who  is  responsible  for  this 
story,  doesn't  answer  your  letter.  Mrs.  Dane 
herself  keeps  silence.  Now  suppose  this  story  is 
true — (indignant  gesture  from  Lal).  My  dear 
Lai,  have  patience !  If  it's  false,  we  shall  soon  be 
able  to  demolish  it  and  put  Mrs.  Dane  right  with 
the  world.  But  suppose  it's  true,  you  force  her 
hand,  you  make  it  impossible  for  her  to  hide  it, 
and  you  give  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  a  public 
triumph  over  her.  Don't  you  think  it  might  be 
kinder  to  Mrs.  Dane  to  wait  ? 

Lal.  No.  Lady  Eastney,  will  you  write  to 
Mrs.  Dane,  and  say  that  we  all  think  she  should 
stop  these  stories  at  once,  by  coming  over  here  and 
giving  Sir  Daniel  the  means  of  proving  them 
false. 

Lady  E.  (Seats  herself  at  writing-table.} 
After  all,  we  only  want  to  know  the  truth. 

Sir  D.     You'll  get  it  that  way.     (To  Lal.) 


40  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Lai,  if  I  take  this  story  to  pieces  and  find  it  false, 
I  won't  say  another  word ;  you  shall  marry  Mrs. 
Dane  as  soon  as  you  please. 

Lal.     Thank  you,  sir. 

Sir  D.  But — don't  be  angry  with  me — if  I  find 
it  true,  of  course  there's  an  end  to  everything  be- 
tween you  and  her  ? 

Lal.     Of  course,  sir. 

Enter,  left,  Adams,  announcing  Canon  Bonsey. 
Enter  Canon  Bonsey.  He  shakes  hands  with 
Sir  Daniel  and  Lal.  Lady  East\ey  smiles 
and  nods  to  Canon  from  writing-table. 

Lady  E.  Adams,  will  you  send  this  note  to 
Mrs.  Dane  at  once? 

Lal.     I'll  take  it  myself,  Lady  Eastney. 

Lal  takes  letter  and  goes  off,  left.     Exit 
Adams,  left. 

Lady  E.  (shaking  hands  with  Canon).  I'm 
delighted  you've  come.     Is  there  anything  fresh? 

Canon  B.  I  met  Bulsom-Porter  this  morning; 
he  is  most  anxious  to  withdraw,  or  apologize,  or 
do  anything  to  smooth  the  matter  over. 

Lady  E.  I  saw  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  yesterday, 
and  I'm  quite  sure  she  will  never  withdraw  any- 
thing that  can  damage  the  reputation  of  another 
woman.     It  would  be  a  concession  to  immorality. 


act  n  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  41 

Sir  D.  You've  not  seen  Mrs.  Dane  again,  I 
suppose,  Canon? 

Canon  B.  No.  I  called  ten  days  ago  and 
dropped  a  hint  that  under  the  circumstances  it 
would  be  advisable  for  her  not  to  take  a  stall  at 
the  bazaar. 

Sir  D.     Did  she  take  the  hint? 

Canon  B.  No;  somehow  or  the  other  she 
managed  to  convince  me  that  she  was  a  very  much 
ill-used  woman,  and  I  left  her  with  the  understand- 
ing that  she  should  take  the  stall. 

Lady  E.     Then  she  will  ? 

Canon  B.  Well,  this  morning  I  understand 
our  dear  duchess  has  got  wind  of  the  story,  and  is 
going  to  send  for  me,  and  mercilessly  haul  me  over 
the  coals ;  in  fact,  I  hear  she  refuses  to  open  the 
bazaar  unless  Mrs.  Dane  retires ;  so  between  these 
two  dear  ladies  my  peace  of  mind  is  likely  to  be 
rudely  shaken,  if  not  rent  in  twain.  Such  is  my 
reward  for  twenty-five  years'  management  of  this 
parish,  on  the  principle  of  the  widest  toleration  for 
everybody's  views  in  doctrine,  and  everybody's 
practices  in  morals. 

Lady  E.  But  you  say  Mrs.  Dane  convinced 
you  that  she  was  a  very  ill-used  woman. 

Canon  B.  She  did.  But  then  I  was  very  will- 
ing to  be  convinced. 

Lady  E.  Did  you  think  her  manner  was  that 
of  an  innocent  woman  ? 


42  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Canon  B.  So  far  as  I  could  judge.  But,  dear 
Lady  Eastney,  I  am  the  veriest  amateur  in  dealing 
with  your  sex ;  and  so  far  as  your  manner  goes,  I 
wouldn't  presume  to  say  that  any  one  of  you  could 
ever  be  guilty  of  anything.     Eh,  Sir  Daniel  ? 

Sir  D.  I  never  judge  from  manner  alone. 
There  is  the  confusion  of  guilt  and  the  confusion 
of  innocence ;  the  brazen  self-confidence  of  guilt 
and  the  serene  self-confidence  of  innocence — 1 
won't  pretend  I  know  which  is  which — except  that 
sometimes  a  look,  a  gesture,  a  word,  will  give  you 
a  peep  into  the  very  soul  of  a  man  or  \Voman,  and 
you  cry  at  once,  "This  is  certain  guilt."  or  "This 
is  certain  innocence." 

Lady  E.  I  wonder  if  we  shall  get  such  a  peep 
to-day  ? 

Canon  B.     How? 

Lady  E.  I've  just  written  to  ask  Mrs.  Dane  to 
come  on  here  and  meet  Sir  Daniel  and  you  and 
Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter. 


Enter  Adams  announcing  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter.  Enter  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulsom-Por- 
ter.  Exit  Adams.  Hand-shakes  and  how- 
d'ye-do's  exchanged  between  Lady  Eastney 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter,  Canon 
Bonsey  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter; 
Sir  Daniel,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulsom-Por- 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  43 

ter.      Sir   Daniel   retires   to    a   corner  and 
watches. 

Lady  E.  (cordially  to  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter). 
Now  this  is  very  charming  of  you.  We  shall  be 
able  to  talk  this  little  matter  over  before  Mrs. 
Dane  comes. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  didn't  understand  that  Mrs. 
Dane  was  to  be  present  (glancing  sharply  at 
Bulsom-Porter).  Of  course  Mr.  Bulsom-Por- 
ter is  pleased.  He  sees  nothing  objectionable  in 
his  wife  meeting  her. 

Bul.-P.  My  dear,  if  you  consider  Mrs.  Dane's 
company  objectionable,  pray  don't  stay.  I  don't 
think  I  shall  come  to  much  harm,  so  I'll  risk  it. 

(Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  looks  very  indig- 
nantly at  Bulsom-Porter.) 

Lady  E.  (hurriedly).  Of  course  you  know 
that  Mrs.  Dane  denies  this  story? 

Mrs.  Bul-P.  Naturally  she  would.  But  I'm 
hourly  expecting  some  very  important  informa- 
tion. 

Lady  E.     About  Mrs.  Dane? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Yes.  The  messenger  is  now 
on  his  way  from  town,  and  I've  directed  him  to  be 
sent  over  from  my  house  the  moment  he  arrives, 
if  you  don't  mind. 

Lady  E.  Certainly  not.  We  only  wish  to  get 
at  the  truth. 


44  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Bul.-P.  I've  heard  nothing  about  this  mes- 
senger.    Who  is  he  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  That's  my  business  for  the 
present.  I  have  taken  this  affair  entirely  into  my 
own  hands. 

Bul.-P.  The  last  time  you  took  an  affair  into 
your  own  hands  you  involved  me  in  a  law-suit 
which  cost  me  a  thousand  pounds 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  The  hussy  was  guilty,  but  she 
made  eyes  at  the  jury.  Of  course  they  were  men. 
What  could  you  expect?  They  gave  her  dam- 
ages. 

Bul.-P.  So  would  I.  if  it  hadn't  been  coming 
out  of  my  own  pocket. 

Mrs.  P.U..-P.  On  the  whole  the  money  was 
well  spent.  The  matter  was  thoroughly  venti- 
lated, as  I  intend  this  shall  be. 

Lady  E.  But,  my  dear  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter, 
you  surely  wish  to  find  yourself  mistaken  in  this 
story  ? 

Mrs.  Bil.-P.  Of  course  I  should  be  very 
pleased  to  find  myself  mistaken,  but  my  instincts 
tell  me  that  I'm  not ;  and  my  instincts  in  these  cases 
arc  invariably  right. 

Lady  E.  But  have  you  nothing  better  than 
mere  instincts  to  guide  you  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Yes.  There  is  a  curious  ex- 
pression on  Mrs.  Dane's  face  which  exactly  cor- 
responds with  that  of  a  Miss  Spooner — {glances 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  45 

sternly  at  Bulsom-Porter)  I  need  not  pursue  the 
story. 

Bul.-P.  There  was  no  story  (sighs  deeply),  I 
regret  to  say. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (very  severely).  You  might 
have  the  good  taste  to  leave  your  flippancies  at 
home.  If  this  woman  is  guilty,  as  I  am  convinced 
she  is,  I'm  sure  Canon  Bonsey,  as  a  clergyman  will 
own  that  I  have  rendered  a  very  great  service  to 
Sunningwater  Society  in  not  allowing  the  matter 
to  rest. 

Canon  B.  Quite  true.  Whenever  it  is  neces- 
sary that  any  disagreeable  scandal  should  be 
stirred  up  for  the  good  of  Society,  I'm  very  much 
obliged  to  those  dear,  good  people  who  will  kindly 
stir  it  up  for  me,  and  save  me  the  trouble.  And 
with  regard  to  the  present  case,  I  hope  you'll  ask 
Sir  Daniel  to  give  you  the  benefit  of  his  vast  legal 
experience,  and  then — then  it  won't  be  necessary 
to  stir  it  up  any  further,  will  it  ? 

Lady  E.  Sir  Daniel  will  be  only  too  pleased  to 
give  us  his  advice.  Sir  Daniel,  why  don't  you 
come  and  help  us  ? 

Sir  D.  (rising,  coming  forward).  Help  you 
talk  it  over  ?  Will  you  please  give  me  one  single 
fact,  one  single  scrap  of  evidence  to  go  upon,  and 
I'll  then  join  the  fray  on  one  side  or  the  other,  as 
the  case  may  be?  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter,  didn't  I 
hear  you  say  that  you  had  a  messenger  now  on  his 


46  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

way  from  town  with  some  important  information  ? 
Who  is  he  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     I'd  rather  not  say. 

Sir  D.     Where  does  he  get  the  information? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  He  has  been  over  to  Vienna  on 
purpose. 

Sir  D.  That  sounds  hopeful.  What  means 
has  he  of  getting  at  the  truth  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     Every  means. 

Sir  D.  Better  and  better !  Surely  you  might 
tell  us  who  this  omniscient  person  is? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  When  I  saw  that  my  husband 
was  determined  to  shelter  this  woman,  and  prevent 
the  truth  from  coming  to  light,  I  sent  up  to  town 
for  Mr.  Fendick,  the  private  detective 

Bul.-P.  (startled).     What!? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  And  instructed  him  to  make  all 
inquiries,  no  matter  at  what  expense. 

Bul.-P.  Wrhat?!  Now  please  understand  I 
entirely  dissociate  myself  from  your  action. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  It's  of  no  consequence.  I  can 
proceed  alone. 

Enter  Lal,  left. 
Bul.-P.     But  mv  dear  Henrietta 


Lal.     Mrs.  Dane  is  here.     Shall  I  ask  her  to 
come  in  ? 

Lady  E.     One  moment,  Lionel. 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  47 

Bul.-P.  (to  Lal).  Will  you  please  ask  Mrs. 
Dane  if  she  will  spare  me  a  few  minutes?  I 
have  an  explanation  to  make  to  her. 

(Exit  Lionel,  left.) 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  If  you  have  any  explanation  to 
make  to  that  lady  you  will  please  make  it  in  my 
presence. 

Lady  E.  Aren't  we  getting  a  little  heated?  I 
want  to  have  a  few  words  with  Mrs.  Dane  alone — 
Ah! 

Enter  Mrs.  Dane,  left.  She  is  dressed  very  sim- 
ply, is  very  quiet  and  self-possessed,  and  is  fol- 
lowed by  Lionel,  who  stands  at  door,  left.  She 
bows  all  round.  Sir  Daniel  and  Bulsom- 
Porter  return  her  bow  cordially. 

Mrs.  D.  I  didn't  quite  understand  your  note, 
Lady  Eastney,  but  you  see  I'm  here. 

Lady  E.  (going  to  her,  cordially  shaking 
hands).  I'm  very  glad  you've  come.  I  wanted  a 
few  minutes'  talk  with  you.  Won't  you  sit  down  ? 
It's  fearfully  hot  indoors.  Suppose  you  all  go 
down  to  the  summer-house  and  I'll  send  you  some 
cooling  drinks.  Canon,  will  you  see  that  Mrs. 
Bulsom-Porter  is  made  comfortable  ? 

Canon  B.  Delighted.  (To  Mrs.  Dane) 
How-d'ye-do,  my  dear  Mrs.  Dane?  (shaking 
hands).     Then  we'll  wait  you   in  the  summer- 


48  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

house.     (Going  to   Mrs.   Bulsom-Porter)    Al- 
low me. 

(Taking  her  parasol,  opening  it,  waits  for 
her  to  go  off.  Sir  Daniel  and  Mrs. 
Dane  are  watching  each  other  fur- 
tively— he  very  scarchiugly.  she  quiet, 
self-possessed.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Por- 
ter waits  a  moment  to  see  that  her  hus- 
band does  not  speak  to  Mrs.  Dane, 
then  goes  off  with  the  Canon. 
Exeunt  Mrs.  Bulsom-,Porter  and 
Canon,  rig  Jit.) 

Bul.-P.  (confidentially  to  Sir  Daniel,  who  is 
quietly  watching  Mrs.  Dane.  In  a  quiet  voice.) 
I  say  (draws  him  aside),  how  am  I  to  stop  my  wife 
from  dragging  me  into  another  confounded  law- 
suit? 

Sir  D.     Ah  !     Come  and  talk  it  over. 

(Exeunt  Sir  Daniel  and  Bulsom-Por- 
ter, right.  Sir  Daniel  turning  to 
glance  slightly  at  Mrs.  Dane  as  he 
goes  off.  Lionel  comes  from  door, 
left.) 

Lady  E.  Lionel,  will  you  find  Adams  and  ask 
him  to  take  tea  and  iced  drinks  to  the  summer- 
house  ? 

(Lal  shakes  hands  with  Lady  Eastney 
in  thankfulness  for  her  consideration 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  49 

for  Mrs.  Dane  and  goes  off  through 
conservatory.) 

Lady  E.  Now  my  dear  Mrs.  Dane,  you  know 
that  I  am  your  friend  and  Lionel's  friend. 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Lady  E.  And  between  ourselves  I  hate  Mrs. 
Bulsom- Porter  with  the  most  ungodly,  unchristian 
hatred.  I'm  only  waiting  for  some  tolerable 
excuse  to  get  everybody  in  Sunningwater  to  cut 
her.     Lionel  has  told  you  what  she  says  of  you  ? 

Mrs.  D.  He  says  that  she  is  spreading  some 
story  about  my  being  a  Miss  Hindcmarsh.  What 
is  the  use  of  taking  any  notice  of  such  a  tale  ? 

Lady  E.     You  must  take  notice  of  it. 

Mrs.  D.     I  have  denied  it. 

Lady  E.  You  must  do  more  than  that.  Lionel 
is  waiting  to  make  you  his  wife 

Mrs.  D.  If  he  doesn't  believe  me  I  do  not  wish 
to  bind  him.  {Triumphantly)  But  he  does  be- 
lieve me. 

Lady  E.     Yes,  but  Sir  Daniel 

Mrs.  D.  If  Sir  Daniel  doesn't  believe  me  what 
happiness  can  there  be  for  me  if  I  marry  Mr. 
Carteret  ? 

Lady  E.  Then  you  mean  to  give  him  up  ?  Is 
that  right?  Is  it  wise?  Is  it  kind  to  Lionel? 
Then  there  are  your  other  friends ;  we  are  all  wait- 
ing, I  am  waiting,  to  give  this  woman  the  lie  and 

D 


50  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

show  her  the  door.  If  you  don't  defend  yourself 
what  are  we  to  think  ? 

Mrs.  D.     You  think  I  am  an  imposter? 

Lady  E.  No.  I  said  to  Sir  Daniel  a  few 
minutes  ago  that  I  should  have  acted  throughout 
as  you  have  done 

Mrs.  D.  (very  gratefully).  Thank  you! 
Thank  you ! 

Lady  E.  Up  to  the  present  moment.  There  is 
a  point  at  which  it  is  prudent  to  neglect  slander — 
if  it's  false.  There  is  a  point  at  which  it  is  impru- 
dent, impossible  to  neglect  slander — unless  it  is 
true.  You  have  reached  that  point.  This  story  is 
being  repeated  everywhere.  Why  won't  you  trust 
yourself  to  Sir  Daniel? 

Mrs.  D.     What  does  Sir  Daniel  propose  to  do? 

Lady  E.  To  hear  the  story  of  your  life,  obtain 
the  evidence  for  it,  and  then  get  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  to  make  you  an  ample  apology. 

Mrs.  D.  (cunningly).  I  suppose  Sir  Daniel 
has  no  doubt  he  would  be  able  to  prove  my  story  ? 

Lady  E.  My  dear  Mrs.  Dane,  the  cleverest 
lawyer  of  our  generation  !  And  he  is  only  waiting 
one  word  from  you  to  undertake  your  defence. 
If  you  refuse,  what  inference  will  everybody 
draw  ? 

Enter  Lal  hastily,  right. 

Lal.     Lady    Eastney,    what    do    you    suppose 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  51 

Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  has  done?  She  has  gone  to 
Fendick,  the  private  detective.  (A  spasm  of 
fright  passes  over  Mrs.  Dane's  face,  which  is 
hidden  from  them.)     Did  you  know  of  it? 

Lady  E.  She  said  she  was  expecting  some  in- 
formation this  afternoon.  I've  told  Mrs.  Dane 
that  she  must  meet  this  slander. 

(Mrs.  Dane  has  recovered  from  her 
fright  and  regained  her  self-assurance. 
After  a  moment's  deliberation  she  takes 
an  opened  telegram  from  her  pocket 
and  gwes  it  to  Lady  Eastney.) 

Mrs.  D.  (very  quietly).  Read  that,  Lady  East- 
ney. 

Lady  E.  (taking  telegram).     From  whom? 

Mrs.  D.     From  Mr.  Risby. 

Lady  E.  (Takes  telegram  from  envelope — it 
is  on  two  sheets;  reads.)  "Lady  Eastney  writes 
me  that  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  repeats  some  absurd 
story  about  you.  Am  writing  Lady  Eastney  this 
post  that  I  was  quite  mistaken  in  recognizing  you. 
If  any  further  trouble,  let  me  know  and  will  im- 
mediately set  matter  right.  James  Risby, 
Schweizerhof,  Lucerne."     When  did  you  get  this  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yesterday. 

Lady  E.  But  this  explains  everything.  Why 
didn't  you  show  it  us  at  once?         (Rings  bell.) 

Mrs.  D.  Why  should  I  ?  You  forget  that  you 
and  all  Sunningwater  are  very  much  concerned  to 


52  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

know  whether  I'm  this  Miss  Somebody.  I  have 
told  you  that  I'm  not,  and  you  don't  believe  me. 
Why  should  I  trouble  any  further  ? 

Enter  Adams,  left. 

Lady  E.     Is  the  afternoon  post  in,  Adams  ? 

Adams.     Not  yet,  my  lady. 

Lady  E.  Bring  my  letters  to  me  the  moment 
they  arrive. 

Adams.     Yes,  my  lady.  (Exit.) 

Lal.  The  thing  is  quite  clear.  „  Risby  has 
made  a  mistake.  May  I  show  that  telegram  to  my 
father  ? 

Mrs.  D.  No.  Let  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  repeat 
her  slanders,  and  pay  her  detectives  to  repeat  them. 
I  shall  not  take  the  least  notice  of  her. 

Lady  E.  You  must !  You  owe  it  to  Lionel  to 
prove  this  story  false.  Let  me  show  this  telegram 
to  Sir  Daniel? 

Mrs.  D.  (after  a  pause).  Very  well.  As  you 
please. 

Lady  E.  We  will  very  soon  settle  Mrs.  Bul- 
som-Porter. (Exit  right,  with  telegram.) 

Lal  (lingering).  My  father  has  been  asking 
for  evidence.     Now  he  has  got  it. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes.  But  suppose  Sir  Daniel  cannot 
prove  my  innocence,  suppose  this  story  is  still  be- 
lieved and  we  are  parted  after  all,  you  will  remem- 
ber that  I  shall  love  you  till  my  last  breath,  with 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  53 

all  the  love  of  my  heart,  with  all  that  is  best  and 
truest  in  me  ? 

Lal.     Yes,  but  we  shan't  be  parted.     Come  and 
tell  my  father  everything. 

Mrs.  D.     That  woman  is  there.     I  hate  scenes 
of  any  kind. 

Lal.     Then  I'll  bring  him  to  you. 

(She  shows  him  a  radiant,  smiling  face. 
He  runs  off  right.    The  moment  he  has 
gone  she  utters  a  sharp  cry,  followed 
by  a  long  groan  of  despair,  sits  dozen 
on  sofa  with  a  white,  drawn,  haggard 
face,  wringing  her  hands,  staring  in 
front  of  her. — A   pause.     The  door, 
left,  opening  into  drawing-room,  has 
been  left  open.     Voices  heard  off.) 
Adams.     What  name  did  you  say? 
Fendick.     (Voice  heard  off.)     Fendick. 
Adams.     You  say  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  does  ex- 
pect you  ? 

Fendick.     Yes.     She  left  word  at  home  I  was 
to  come  on  here  to  her. 

Adams.     I'll  let  her  know  you're  here. 

Enter  Adams,  left,  crosses  and  exit,  right.  Mrs. 
Dane  creeps  up  to  door,  left,  looks  through  it, 
utters  a  little  cry  of  alarm,  and  comes  away. 
Enter,  left,  Fendick,  an  ordinary-looking,  mid- 
dle-class man  about  forty,  clean  shaven. 


54  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  n 

Fendick.  I  beg  pardon — (stops,  seeing  her). 
Oh! 

Mrs.  D.  Fendick!  You,  Fendick!  You 
gave  me  some  other  name.  Why  did  you  come  to 
my  house  a  fortnight  ago? 

Fendick.  Well,  you  see,  the  fact  is,  I  wanted 
to  get  a  photograph  of  you  in  the  way  of  business, 
and  so  I  adopted  the  slight  ruse  of  saying  I  was 
taking  photographic  views  of  the  neighbourhood, 
and  I  asked  you  to  give  me  an  opportunity  of  tak- 
ing a  view  from  your  garden.  , 

Mrs.  D.     Did  you  get  a  photograph  of  me? 

Fendick.  My  partner  took  two  whilst  I  was 
chatting  with  you  and  taking  off  your  attention. 
(She  shows  great  fright.)  I  know  it  was  rather 
shabby,  but  my  profession  has  its  shabby  side. 

Mrs.  D.  What  use  have  you  made  of  the 
photograph  ? 

Fendick.  Well,  of  course  that's  my  business. 
There  !  (looks  all  round)  you  treated  me  very  well 
that  day — if  it's  any  use  to  you  to  know,  I've  been 
over  to  Vienna  for  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter,  and  after 
a  good  deal  of  trouble  I  found  a  man  over  there 
that  remembers  Miss  Hindemarsh,  and  can  recog- 
nize her  if  necessary.     I  mustn't  say  any  more. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes!  You're  a  detective.  I'll  em- 
ploy you.  Name  your  own  sum.  I'll  give  you 
double,  treble,  ten  times  what  she  gives.     You'll 


act  n  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  55 

find  some  one  that  knows  that  I'm  not  this  Miss 
Hindemarsh — not  the  least  like  her? 

Fendick.  No,  ma'am,  I  can't.  Thank  you  all 
the  same. 

Mrs.  D.  {getting  more  frantic) .  Yes!  Yes! 
You  must!  I  say  you  must!  Don't  ruin  me! 
This  man  in  Vienna  ?  He  doesn't  know  who  and 
where  I  am  now  ? 

Fendick.     Not  unless  I  bring  him  over. 

Mrs.  D.  But  you  won't !  He  won't  recognize 
me.  You've  been  to  Vienna.  Listen !  Please 
understand  from  this  time  I  employ  you,  and  you 
shall  be  handsomely  paid.  There's  nobody  who 
recognizes  me.  I'm  not  in  the  least  like  that  lady. 
You  understand  ? 

Fendick.  I  can't  do  it.  I  can't,  indeed.  It 
might  be  found  out. 

Mrs.  D.  It  shan't  be.  How  can  it?  Oh,  how 
can  I  move  you?  I'll  give  you  every  farthing  I 
have.  Don't  betray  me  !  Don't  betray  me  !  It's 
everything  to  me — my  happiness,  my  life,  my  all. 
Oh,  don't  ruin  me !  Hush  !  (She  looks  off  rig  Jit, 
points  him  off  left,  whispering  as  he  goes  off)  You 
won't  betray  me  ? 

(She  comes  back,  with  an  immense  effort 
regains  her  self-possession,  takes  a 
novel,  and  sits  on  sofa.) 

Enter  Lal,  right,  followed  by  Adams,  who  crosses 
and  exit,  left. 


56  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Lal.  My  father  is  coming.  I  made  him 
promise  to  take  up  your  case  and  fight  it  through. 

Mrs.  D.     How  kind  of  him. 

Adams  (speaking  off,  left.  Mrs.  Dane  listens, 
with  great  apprehension).  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter 
will  be  here  in  a  minute  if  you  will  wait. 

Enter  Sir  Daniel  and  Lady  Eastney,  right. 

Lady  E.  Here  is  your  champion.  Tell  him 
everything. 

Sir  D.  If  I  can  be  of  any  service  I  shall  be  de- 
lighted. 

Adams  re-enters  left,  and  brings  letter  on  tray  to 
Lady  Eastney.  She  takes  it,  reads  it.  Exit 
Adams,  left,  closing  the  door  after  him. 

Mrs.  D.  (to  Sir  Daniel).  When  I  heard  this 
story  was  being  circulated  I  thought  it  would  be 
better  to  take  no  notice  and  let  it  die  a  natural 
death.     Don't  you  think  I  was  wise? 

Sir  D.  Very  wise,  if  it  had  died  a  natural 
death.  But  you  see  it  hasn't.  So  suppose  we  set 
to  work  and  crush  the  life  out  of  it,  shall  we? 

Mrs.  D.  Shan't  I  be  trespassing  upon  you? 
Won't  it  be  wasting  your  valuable  time  ? 

Sir  D.  I've  no  hobby  but  my  profession,  so  it 
won't  be  a  waste  of  time  to  spend  a  few  hours  in 
the  long  vacation  to  free  you  from  an  unjust  sus- 


act  ii  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  57 

picion.  (Lal  comes  up  to  thou.)  I  said  I  had 
no  hobby  but  my  profession.  That  isn't  true. 
This  young  fellow  (taking  Lal's  arm  affection- 
ately) is  another  very  dear  hobby  of  mine.  You, 
too,  are  concerned  for  his  happiness  ? 

( Watching  her  very  closely.) 

Mrs.  D.     Yes,  indeed. 

Sir  D.  (watching  her  keenly).  And  therefore 
you  wish  me  to  sift  this  affair  thoroughly?  (She 
is  going  to  speak. )  Knowing  that  the  happiness 
of  his  whole  life  is  staked  on  the  result? 

Mrs.  D.  I  only  wish  for  his  happiness — not  my 
own.     Do  just  as  you  please. 

Sir  D.  Then  you  place  yourself  entirely  in  my 
hands  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes;  most  willingly.  How  can  I 
thank  you  ? 

Sir  D.     Wait  till  I  deserve  your  thanks. 

Lady  E.  (Has  been  reading  the  letter.) 
Really  the  whole  affair  is  too  absurdly  simple. 

Enter  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  at  window,  followed 
by  Bulsom-Porter  and  Canon  Bonsey. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Lady  Eastney,  there's  a  man 
waiting  to  see  me.     Will  you  allow  me  ? 

Lady  E.  Certainly.  I  believe  he  is  in  the  next 
room,  but  (stopping  her)  I  think  you  should  hear 
this  letter  first.  It  is  from  your  nephew,  Mr. 
Risby.    "Dear  Lady  Eastney,  I  have  received  your 


58  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  H 

litter.  It  is  quite  true  that  at  the  first  glance  I 
thought  I  recognized  in  Mrs.  Dane  a  lady  whom  I 
had  previously  met,  and  I  casually  mentioned  the 
fact  to  my  aunt,  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter.  But  on 
seeing  Mrs.  Dane  a  second  time,  I  discovered  my 
mistake,  and  I  told  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  of  my 
error.  Will  you  express  my  sincere  regrets  to 
Mrs.  Dane,  and  will  you  assure  anyone  who  may 
revive  the  story  that  it  is  utterly  false."  What 
more  do  we  want?  {Hands  the  letter  to  Sir 
D  \mii  .  who  reads  it  carefully.  Lady  EASTNEY 
thru  turns  to  Mrs.  BuLSOM-PoRTER. )  Surely 
that  is  enough,  and  you  will  he  only  too  glad  to 
own  to  Mrs.  Dane  that  you're  mistaken. 

Mrs.  Bri..-P.  (a  little  taken  aback).  I  don't 
know.  T  should  like  to  hear  what  Fendick  has  to 
say. 

Sir  D.  (suddenly,  as  if  struck  with  an  idea). 
One  moment.  Mrs.  Dane  has  already  placed  her- 
self in  my  hands.  Mrs.  P.ulsom-Porter,  may  I 
offer  you  my  services  ? 

Mrs.  P.ul.-P.     For  what  purpose? 

Sir  D.  To  get  at  the  truth.  You  have  cir- 
culated a  story  which  from  this  letter  seems  to  be 
quite  false.  Your  husband  has  asked  me  to  use 
my  influence  to  prevent  the  very  disagreeable  con- 
sequences which  are  likely  to  follow.  Will  you 
allow  me  to  call  in  Mr.  Fendick,  and  ask  him  a 
few  questions  ? 


act  ii               MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  59 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     Well,  I 


Bul.-P.  Yes,  if  you  please,  Sir  Daniel.  I 
shall  be  guided  entirely  by  vou. 

Sir  D.  Lady  Eastney,  you  will  permit  me? 
(Lady  Eastney  nods  assent.  Sir  Daniel  goes 
to  door,  left,  and  calls)  Mr.  Fendick  ' 

Fendick  enters,  left 

Sir  D.  (to  Fendick).  You've  been  to  Vienna 
lately  ? 

Fendick.     Yes,  sir. 

Sir  D.  To  ask  certain  questions  about  a  lady 
who  formerly  lived  there,  a  Miss  Hindemarsh  ? 

Fendick.     Yes,  sir. 

Sir  D.     What  are  the  results  of  your  inquiries  ? 

Fendick.  Well,  sir,  I'm  not  at  liberty  to  say, 
as  you're  not  employing  me. 

Sir  D.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  wishes  you  to 
speak. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Will  you  please  tell  us  all  that 
you've  found  out  in  Vienna? 

Fendick.     In  respect  of  what,  ma'am? 

Sir  D.  Perhaps  I'd  better  put  a  direct  ques- 
tion. Is  Miss  Hindemarsh  identical  with  a  lady 
who  is  now  living  in  this  neighbourhood  ? 

Fendick.     This  neighbourhood? 

Sir  D.  Is  Miss  Hindemarsh  identical  with  a 
lady  who  is  now  in  this  room?  (turning  to  Mrs. 
Dane).     Is  this  lady  Miss  Hindemarsh? 


60  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

Fendick.     Xo,  sir. 

Sir  D.  {very  searchingly) .     You're  quite  sure? 

Fendick.     Quite  sure,  sir. 

Sir  D.  You  have  trustworthy  evidence  that 
she  is  not  Miss  Hindemarsh  ? 

Fendick.     Yes,  sir. 

Sir  D.     What  evidence  have  you  ? 

Fendick  (producing  photograph).  I  took  this 
portrait  over  to  Vienna  {giving  photograph  to  Sir 
Daniel),  and  the  parties  over  there  that  remem- 
ber Miss  Hindemarsh,  say  distinctlv  that  this  isn't 
the  lady. 

Sir  D.  She  doesn't  resemble  Miss  Hinde- 
marsh ? 

Fendick.     No,  sir.     Not  in  the  least  like  her. 

Sir  D.  Thank  you.  We  shall  want  fuller  in- 
formation, but  that  will  do  for  the  present. 
(Opens  the  door  for  him,  left.  Exit  Fendick. 
To  Mrs.  Bulsom -Porter)  I'm  afraid  you've  com- 
mitted yourself  very  deeply.  On  Mrs.  Dane's 
behalf  I  shall  have  to  insist  that  you  withdraw  this 
story  without  the  least  reserve. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     In  what  way? 

Sir  D.  May  I  suggest  a  form?  If  you  will 
allow  me  I  will  draw  it  out,  and  you  can  sign  it 
before  leaving  the  room. 

(Sir  Daniel  sits  down  to  write.) 

Canon  B.  (coming  up  to  Mrs.  Dane).  I  con- 
gratulate you  (shaking  hands,  looking  round).     I 


act  n  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  61 

think  we  are  all  to  be  congratulated.  You  upon 
the  pleasant  termination  to  this  very  unpleasant 
affair ;  myself  upon  the  restoration  of  peace  to  this 
idyllic  neighbourhood ;  and  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter 
for  having  stirred  up  this  matter  so  vigorously, 
and  to  an  issue  which,  I  am  sure,  must  be  as  grati- 
fying to  her,  as  it  was  evidently  unexpected. 

(Smiling  on  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter.) 

Bul.-P.  I  hope  Mrs.  Dane  will  allow  me  to 
offer  her  my  sincere  regrets.     (To  Mrs.  Dane.) 

Mrs.  D.  Thank  you.  I  was  so  sorry  that  I 
was  not  at  home  the  other  day  when  you  called. 
You  will  forgive  me  for  not  answering  your  note? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (to  Bulsom-Porter).  Your 
note?  You've  been  making  (Bulsom-Porter 
conies  over  to  her)  calls  and  leaving  notes  on 

Bul.-P.  (quietly).  For  heaven's  sake  keep 
your  hysterics  till  you  get  home. 

(Tries  to  soothe  her.) 

Sir  D.  (having  written,  comes  to  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter).  Will  you  kindly  read  it  over  and 
sign  it  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (glancing at  note).  But  this  is  a 
public  apology ! 

Sir  D.     I  have  made  it  as  agreeable  as  I  could. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  A  public  apology!  (Again 
looks  at  it.)  No.  I'm  quite  sure  from  my 
nephew's  manner  that  he  was  concealing  some- 


62  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  ii 

thing.     I  shall  not  apologize  or  withdraw  anything 
until  I've  made  further  inquiries. 

(She  is  about  to  tear  up  the  paper.) 

Sir  D.  (stops  her  very  quietly).  Pardon  me. 
Don't  tear  that.  (To  Lady  Eastney)  Where  is 
Mr.  Risby  now? 

Lady  E.     At  the  Schweizerhof,  Lucerne. 

Sir  D.  To-day  is  Saturday.  We  can  get  him 
back  next  week.  (To  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter) 
You  have  slandered  an  innocent  lady  without  the 
least  justification.  Take  that  paper  home,  think 
the  matter  over,  and — will  you  accept  a  piece  of 
advice  from  an  old  lawyer — gratis — let  me  have 
it  signed  and  witnessed  by  next  Saturday.  The 
alternative  will  be  very  troublesome,  very  humil- 
iating to  you,  and  terribly  expensive — to  your 
husband.  (Gesture  of  despair  from  Bulsom - 
Portkr.)  Take  it  home.  Let  me  have  it  signed 
and  witnessed  by  next  Saturday. 

Mrs.  D.     How  good  of  you ! 

(Lady    Eastney    has    rung    the    bell. 
Adams  enters,  left.) 

Lady  E.     The  door,  Adams. 

Mrs.  Bulsom- Porter  goes  off,  left,  fol- 
lowed by  Bulsom- Porter.) 

CURTAIN 

Four  days  pass  between  .-lets  II  and  III. 


ACT  III 

Scene — Library  at  Sir  Daniel  Carteret's,  Sunning- 
water.  A  cosy  room  in  a  modern  red  brick  house.  At 
back,  a  fireplace  with  a  looking-glass  in  the  overmantel. 
Door  up  stage,  right.  A  large  bow  window,  left,  with 
doors  opening  out  upon  lawn.  A  table  up  stage  left.  A 
writing-table  down  stage,  right,  littered  with  books  and 
papers.  A  sofa  down  stage,  left.  Bookshelves  all  round 
the  room. 

Time — The  following  Wednesday  afternoon.  Dis- 
cover Sir  Daniel  at  fireplace,  looking  in  the  glass,  ar- 
ranging a  flower  in  his  buttonhole,  regarding  himself 
critically. 

Enter  Wilson  right,  announcing  Lady  Eastney. 
Enter  Lady  Eastney.     Exit  Wilson. 

Lady  E.  {shaking  hands).     You're  busy? 

Sir  D.     Yes ;  trying  to  persuade  myself  I  am 
forty — solely  on  your  account. 

Lady  E.  That's  not  necessary.  I  like  you  well 
enough  as  you  are. 

Sir  D.  (tenderly).  Give  me  the  best  proof  of 
that. 

6.3 


64  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  in 

Lady  E.  I  have.  I'm  here  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  before  my  time. 

Sir  D.     You  couldn't  be  that  in  my  house. 

Lady  E.  How  are  matters  going  with  Mrs. 
Dane? 

Sir  D.  Splendidly  (going  up  to  writing-table; 
taking  up  two  sheets  of  foolscap,  closely  written 
over  in  a  lady's  hand).  She  has  given  me  a  de- 
tailed history  of  her  whole  life.  She  accounts  for 
every  moment  from  her  childhood. 

Lady  E.     Has  Mr.  Fendick  sent  his  evidence? 

Sir  D.  Yes.  it  came  this  morning.  That's 
(juite  satisfactory  too  (taking  up  another  paper 
from  table). 

Lady  E.     And  Mr.  Risby? 

Sir  D.  He's  coming  specially  from  Lucerne  to 
put  matters  right.  I  expect  him  almost  every 
moment,  and  Fendick  is  also  running  down  from 
town  for  a  little  conference,  so  to-night  I  shall 
have  all  the  threads  of  the  case  in  my  hands,  and 
then 

Lady  E.     Then  ? 

Sir  D.  Then  I  shall  be  able  to  talk  to  Mrs. 
Bulsom-Porter. 

Lady  E.  I'm  delighted.  The  whole  neigh- 
bourhood is  still  in  a  perfect  fever  over  the  affair. 
Nothing  else  is  talked  about. 

Sir  D.  I  wish  there  wasn't  quite  so  much  gos- 
sip about  it. 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  65 

Lady  E.  My  dear  Sir  Daniel,  we  live  in  a  resi- 
dential neighbourhood  in  a  wicked  world,  and 
what  possible  occupation  is  there  for  us  poor 
women  except  to  discuss  scandal,  or — to  create  it  ? 
You've  met  the  new  red-haired  curate?  He  was 
at  Mrs.  Deveson's  garden-party  yesterday.  He 
has  espoused  Mrs.  Dane's  cause  with  all  the  fury 
of  his  flaming  locks. 

Sir  D.  Rather  a  dangerous  champion,  I  should 
say. 

Lady  E.  H'm,  I  don't  know.  He'll  rally  all 
the  High  Church  to  our  side.  Wrench,  the  curate 
from  Latterfield,  was  there  too.  W rench  is  black- 
browed  and  Evangelical.  Well,  our  red-haired 
man  got  into  a  heated  argument  with  Wrench,  first 
about  Catholic  practices,  and  then  about  Mrs. 
Dane — redhead  went  wagging  against  blackhead 
— it  was  all  I  could  do  to  prevent  a  scrimmage 

Sir  D.     What  happened  ? 

Lady  E.  I  allured  flaming  locks  to  a  shady 
corner,  and  dosed  him  with  cold  counsel  and  iced 
lemon  squash.     Oh,  I  forgot 

SirD.     What? 

Lady  E.  The  duchess  was  there.  She's  going 
to  make  an  important  call  on  you  this  afternoon. 

SirD.     Why? 

Lady  E.  She's  very  much  interested  in  Mrs. 
Dane's  affair,  and  wants  to  know  all  about  it.  We 
shall  find  the  duchess  a  useful  allv. 


66  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.  (handling  the  foolscap).  We  shall  need 
no  ally,  except  the  truth. 

Lady  E.  (smiling).  Won't  you?  The  truth 
is  all  very  well,  Sir  Daniel,  but  if  I  had  to  live 
down  a  scandal,  I'd  rather  have  a  duchess  on  my 
side. 

Lal  enters  at  window. 

Lal.     How  d'ye  do,  Lady  Eastney  ? 

Lady  E.     How  d'ye  do?     (Shaking  hands.) 

Lal.     Risby  hasn't  turned  up  yet?  ^ 

Sir  D.  (taking  out  watch).  No,  I  expect  him 
very  soon.     You  haven't  brought  Mrs.  Dane? 

Lal.  No.  She  has  thought  of  some  more  par- 
ticulars of  her  history ;  she's  writing  them  out  for 
you. 

Sir  D.  Go  back  and  tell  her  not  to  trouble  any 
further,  and  ask  her  to  be  here  to  meet  Risby  in 
( taking  out  watch)  ten  minutes. 

Lal,  All  right.  Lady  Eastney,  I  can't  thank 
you  enough. 

LadyE.     What  for? 

Lal.  For  helping  us  to  beat  down  these  hor- 
rible lies. 

Lady  E.  My  dear  Lal,  I  feel  very  strongly 
about  it,  and  I  shan't  rest  till  I've  worked  the 
whole  neighbourhood  into  a  frenzy  of  virtuous 
sympathy  for  Mrs.  Dane,  and  a  frenzy  of  virtuous 
indignation   against   Mrs.   Bulsom-Porter.     Give 


act  m  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  67 

my  love  to  Mrs.  Dane,  and  tell  her  that,  will  you? 

Lal.  God  bless  you !  Then  I'll  go  and  fetch 
Lucy,  sir  ? 

Sir  D.  (has  been  studying  Mrs.  Dane's  fools- 
cap paper) .     Yes.     Bring  her  at  once. 

(Exit  Lal  at  window  with  a  bright  look 
of  gratitude  to  Lady  Eastney;  Lady 
Eastney  and  Sir  Daniel  go  up  to 
window  and  look  after  him. 

Lady  E.  You're  quite  reconciled  to  their  en- 
gagement? 

Sir  D.  Yes.  I  find  I'm  beginning  to  like  her 
very  much.  I  think  the  boy  will  be  happy  with 
her! 

Lady  E.  You  seem  to  take  a  greater  interest  in 
Lionel's  love-affairs  than  you  do  in  your  own. 

Sir  D.  Ah  no !  You  shouldn't  say  that.  But 
you  have  discouraged  me  so  often 

Lady  E.  I,  discouraged  you  ? !  Why  I've  en- 
couraged you  to  propose  to  me  I  don't  know  how 
many  times. 

Sir  D.     Give  me  a  little  encouragement  now. 

Lady  E.  I  am  a  woman.  I  am  twenty-eight. 
My  first  essay  in  marriage  was  not  a  conspicuous 
success.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was  not  a  disas- 
trous failure.  Altogether  I'm  quite  willing  to 
make  a  fresh  experiment.  But,  on  the  other  hand, 
I'm  quite  happy  in  my  present  state.  It  has  very 
great  advantages.     I  shall  need  a  very  great  deal 


68  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

of  wooing  before  I  am  induced  to  change  it.  In- 
deed, on  second  thoughts  why  should  I  change  it 
at  all? 

Sir  D.  I  wouldn't  have  you  change  it,  except 
for  a  happier  one. 

Lady  E.  I  won't,  if  I  can  help  it.  But  there's 
the  rub.  I  like  you  very  much,  but.  honestly,  I 
don't  love  you.  At  least  (looking  him  up  and 
down  critically)  I  don't  think  I  do.  But  there 
again,  I'm  open  to  persuasion. 

Sir  D.     Give  me  the  benefit  of  the  doubt. 

Lady  E.     I  will — and  say  "No." 

SirD.     "No?!" 

Lady  E.  If  I  say  "Yes"  how  can  I  be  sure  that 
Mr.  Somebody  Else  won't  come  along  and  make 
me  sorry  all  ray  life  that  I  didn't  say  "No." 

Sir  D.     Is  Mr.  Somebody  Else  likely  to  come? 

Lady  E.  How  can  I  tell  ?  He's  always  hang- 
ing about  just  round  the  corner,  and  if  I  married 
you,  and  you  neglected  me,  or  were  unkind,  I'm 
sure  he'd  turn  up,  and  I  do  believe  I  should  listen 
to  the  wretch,  and  then — heigho  ! 

Sir  D.  Be  my  wife  and  if  Mr.  Somebody  Else 
ever  wins  a  word,  or  a  look,  or  a  thought  from 
you,  I'll  own  it's  my  fault,  and  I'll  forgive  him 
and  you  too. 

Lady  E.  (looks  up  at  him).  You  know  I  shall 
end  by  accepting  you. 

Sir  D.     I'm  sure  you  will. 


act  m  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  69 

Lady  E.  Then  I'm  sure  I  won't.  At  least  not 
until 

Sir  D.     Not  until  when  ? 

Lady  E.  Not  until  I've  made  up  my  mind.  I 
want  to  be  persuaded,  I  want  to  be  wooed.  I  want 
you  to  see  in  me  a  thousand  more  perfections  than 
ever  a  woman  had,  and  value  me  a  thousand  times 
more  than  ever  a  woman  was  valued. 

Sir  D.     I  couldn't  value  you  more  than  I  do. 

Lady  E.  (Shakes  her  head  and  smiles.)  It 
won't  do !  It  won't  do !  With  every  wish  in  the 
world  to  oblige  you,  I  really  cannot  sell  my  liberty 
at  your  present  quotations. 

Enter  Wilson   announcing   Miss    Colquhoun. 
Enter  Janet.     Exit  Wilson. 

Janet.     How  d'ye  do,  Sir  Daniel? 

Sir  D.  {shakes  hands).     How  are  you,  dear? 

Janet.  Auntie,  Mrs.  Patterson  has  just  come 
over  to  see  you  about  her  mission  to  the  Indian 
women.     Can  you  spare  her  just  a  few  minutes  ? 

Lady  E.  A  few  minutes?  My  dear  child, 
Mrs.  Patterson  is  a  woman  with  a  mission,  and  it 
takes  years  to  persuade  people  out  of  that  folly. 

Enter  Lal  at  window. 

Lal.     I've  brought  Lucy,  sir.     She's  here 

(stops,  seeing  Janet). 

(Exit  at  window,  shame-faced.) 


70  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Janet.  Auntie,  you  will  let  Mrs.  Patterson 
take  me  away  from  England  ? 

Lady  E.  I'll  come  and  talk  it  over  with  her, 
dear.  (Puts  Janet  off  at  door,  which  has  been 
left  open.  To  Sir  Daniel)  I'll  come  back  br- 
and-by to  see  how  everything  goes  with  Mrs. 
Dane. 

(Exit  Lady  Eastney.  He  closes  the 
door  after  her,  and  goes  up  to  writing- 
table,  takes  up  Mrs.  Dane's  and  Fen- 
dick's  notes.  Enter  Mr§,  Dane  and 
Lal  at  window.  She  has  a  large  blue 
envelope  in  her  hand.) 

Mrs.  D.     How  d'ye  do,  Sir  Daniel  ? 

Sir  D.  (shaking  hands  very  cordially).  How 
d'ye  do? 

Mrs.  D.     Have  you  read  my  statement  ? 

Sir  D.     Every  word.     I  congratulate  you. 

Mrs.  D.     On  what? 

Sir  D.  On  having  told  a  perfectly  plain, 
straightforward  story,  in  a  perfectly  plain, 
straightforward  way. 

Mrs.  D.  I  only  put  down  what  I  knew  and 
felt,  just  as  it  came  to  me.  I've  jotted  down  a  few 
more  notes. 

( Taking  out  of  the  envelope  another  sheet 
of  foolscap,  which  is  partly  written 
over. ) 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  71 

Sir  D.  (taking  sheet).  You've  already  given 
me  all  I  want. 

Mrs.  D.     Tell  me  what  else  I  can  do  ? 

Sir  D.  (Takes  her  hands,  very  quietly  and 
tenderly.)  Leave  yourself  in  my  hands,  and 
wait  the  result  with  perfect  confidence. 

Enter   Wilson,    right,   announcing    Mr.    Risby. 
Enter  Risby,  right.     Exit  Wilson. 

Mrs.  D.  (rather  quickly  and  eagerly).  Oh, 
Mr.  Risby,  how  d'ye  do? 

(Risby  is  a  little  taken  aback;  she  gives 
huu  a  significant  glance,  and  he  re- 
turns her  greeting  very  cordially.) 

Risby.  Ah,  my  dear  Mrs.  Dane!  (Shakes 
hands  very  cordially  with  her,  then  goes  to  Sir 
Daniel.)     Sir  Daniel ! 

(Shakes  hands  with  Sir  Daniel.) 

Sir  D.     How  are  you  ? 
Risby.     Lionel ! 

(Shaking  hands  with  Lionel.) 

Lal.     How  d'ye  do  ? 

Risby  ( To  Sir  Daniel)  .     You  got  my  wire  ? 

Sir  D.  Yes,  I'm  really  sorry  to  drag  you  half 
across  Europe 

Risby.  Half  across  Europe?  Mrs,  Dane  may 
be  quite  sure  that  I  would  willingly  be  dragged 


72  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

half  across  the  celestial  spaces,  if  I  can  only  repair 
my  absurd  mistake.  (Glancing  at  Lionel.)  I 
suppose  I  may  speak  quite  freely 

Sir  D.  Oh,  yes.  Lionel  is  to  marry  Mrs. 
Dane  when  we  have  cleared  this  up. 

Risby.  Indeed.  (Goes  to  Lal.)  My  con- 
gratulations— and  to  Mrs.  Dane.  That  makes  it 
all  the  more  necessary  that  I  should  put  matters 
right.     Xow  tell  me  what  can  I  do? 

Sir  D.  You  told  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  that 
Mrs.  Dane  was  in  reality  Miss  Felicia  Hinde- 
marsh  ? 

Risby.  Yes.  I  was  misled  by  a  certain  gen- 
eral resemblance  on  seeing  Mrs.  Dane  at  some 
distance.  When  I  got  quite  close  to  her  I  saw 
that  I  had  made  a  horrible  blunder. 

Sir  D.  Of  course  you  withdraw  the  state- 
ment ? 

Risby.  Utterly  and  entirely,  with  a  thousand 
apologies. 

Sir  D.  And  suppose  we  have  to  bring  the 
matter  into  court?  (Mrs.  Dane  watches  Risby 
aiixioitsly.) 

Risby.     Will  that  be  necessary? 

Sir  D.  I  hope  not.  I  think  not.  But  we  must 
be  prepared.     We  should  need  your  evidence. 

Risby.  Of  course — if  I'm  in  England.  But  I 
expect  to  make  a  very  extended  tour,  and  might 
be  absent  for  a  year  or  two. 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  73 

Sir  D.  Then  we  must  take  your  evidence  be- 
fore you  start. 

Risby.  Certainlly.  But  you'll  keep  it  out  of 
court,  won't  you  ? 

Sir  D.  I  shall  do  my  best.  But  we  shall  want 
you  to  say  that  this  lady  is  not  Felicia  Hindemarsh, 
whom  you  knew  in  Vienna. 

Risby.  By  all  means.  But  before  I  leave  Sun- 
ningwater  I'll  go  over  to  auntie  and  try  again  to 
drive  that  fact  into  her  comprehension. 

Sir  D.     That  might  help  us. 

Risby.     I'll  go  at  once.     (Takes  up  his  hat.) 

Enter  Wilson,  right. 

Wilson.  Her  Grace  has  called,  Sir  Daniel. 
I've  shown  her  into  the  drawing-room. 

Sir  D.  Very  well,  Wilson.  Tell  her  Grace  I'll 
be  there  in  a  moment.      (Exit  Wilson,  right.) 

Risby.  Is  there  anything  further  that  you  wish 
to  know  ? 

Sir  D.  I  think  not.  When  do  you  leave 
England  ? 

Risby.  In  a  day  or  two — as  soon  as  I  can  get 
away. 

Sir  D.  I've  given  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  till 
Saturday  to  choose  between  a  lawsuit  and  an 
apology.     Can  you  stay  till  after  then? 

Risby.     Certainly.     I'll  hold  myself  at  your  dis- 


74  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

posal  till  Monday  night.     The  Senior  University 
will  find  me  till  then. 

Sir  D.     Very  well. 

Risby.  Good-bye,  if  all  goes  well  and  I  don't 
see  yon  again. 

Sir  D.  Good-bye.  (Shakes  hands  with  Risby 
— turns  to  Mrs.  Dane.)  You'll  wait  here,  won't 
yon?  I  expect  Fendick  every  moment.  I  must 
go  and  get  rid  of  this  bothering  old  woman 

Mrs.  D.  I  understand  she  has  come  to  make 
inquiries  about  me? 

Sir  D.  Yes,  I  believe.  I  shall  be  able  to  set 
her  mind  at  rest.  (Exit,  right,) 

Mrs.  D.  (to  Risby).  It  was  so  good  of  you  to 
come  and  help  us 

Risby.     Surely  I  could  do  no  less. 

Mrs.  D.  Thank  you  so  much.  (Suddenly.) 
Lionel 

Lal.     Yes? 

Mrs.  D.  I've  left  my  keys  in  my  escritoire. 
And  it's  open.  There  are  some  letters  of  yours — 
I  wouldn't  like  them  to  be  read.  Would  you 
mind  running  across  and  locking  it,  and  bringing 
me  the  keys  ? 

Lal.  Yes,  if  you  wish.  I  shall  see  you  again, 
Risby  ? 

Risby.    Yes,  I  daresay. 

(Exit   Lionel  at   window.     They   both 
watch    him    off.     She    then    turns   to 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  75 

Risby  in  a  burst  of  gratitude,  wrings 
his  hands.) 

Mrs.  D.     Thank  you,  with  all  my  heart ! 

Risby.     Hush !     Take  care ! 

(Looks  round  warningly.) 

Mrs.  D.  Sir  Daniel  seems  to  be  quite  satis- 
fied  

Risby.  Yes,  I  think  I've  pulled  you  through 
so  far.  But  I've  gone  as  far  as  it's  safe  to  go — 
perhaps  farther.  (Very  emphatically)  Whatever 
you  do,  you  must  keep  Sir  Daniel  from  bringing  it 
into  court. 

Mrs.  D.  You  think  everything  would  come 
out? 

Risby.  I  fear  so.  This  history  of  your  life 
that  you've  given  to  Sir  Daniel  ? 

Mrs.  D.    Yes? 

Risby.     He  has  read  it? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  and  he's  quite  satisfied.  He 
says  it's  perfectly  plain  and  straightforward. 
Naturally  it  would  be,  as  I  knew  Lucy's  life  almost 
as  well  as  I  know  my  own. 

Risby.     And  she  was  really  Mrs.  Dane? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes ;  when  she  died  I  took  her  name 
and  became  her. 

Risby.  And  you  think  you  can  carry  it  out  to 
the  end? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes ;  I  think  I  can  now  I've  begun. 
I  must !     I  must !     Why  do  you  look  at  me  like 


76  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

that?     You  think  I'm  a  horrid  creature — you  de- 
spise me? 

Risby.     No,  no 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  you  do,  I  can  see  you  do !  Don't 
you  think  I  despise  myself?  Do  you  think  I'd  do 
all  this,  if  I  could  help  myself,  if  there  were  any 
other  way  out  of  it?  But  I  don't  want  you  to 
despise  me 

Risby.  Believe  me,  I  am  only  sorry,  deeply 
sorry  for  you.     May  I  say  one  word — Lionel  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Well  ?  ' 

Risby.  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  to 
tell  him — safer? 

Mrs.  D.  I  can't  now.  He  loves  me  and  be- 
lieves in  me. 

Risby.     Good-bye.  (Offers  hand.) 

Mrs.  D.  (again  seizes  his  hand — wrings  it  with 
gratitude).  Thanks!  Thanks!  This  has  shown 
me  what  a  good  and  true  friend  a  man  can  be  to  a 
woman ! 

Risby.  (retaining  her  hand).  I've  been  awfully 
puzzled  what  to  do.  When  I  called  on  you  this 
morning  I  came  to  tell  you  to  face  the  worst,  that 
it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  hide  the  truth 
from  Sir  Daniel 

Mrs.  D.     But  you  did  ! 

Risby.  Yes.  I'm  not  a  very  soft-hearted 
chap,  but  when  I  saw  that  tear,  I  felt  I  couldn't 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  77 

round  on  you.  I  hope  I've  played  the  game 
fairly. 

Mrs.  D.     Fairly  ?     Most  generously  to  me. 

Risby.     And  I  hope  not  unfairly  to  Lionel. 

Mrs.  D.  I'll  make  him  the  best  and  truest  wife 
that  ever  lived.     You  believe  that? 

Risby.  Yes,  I  believe  you  will.  Good-bye. 
(Kisses  her  hand,  drops  it,  looks  at  her.)  After 
all,  it  isn't  always  the  good  women  who  are  the 
best  for  us  rascals. 

Enter  Wilson,  showing  in  Fendick,  right.  Mrs. 
Dane  shows  very  slight  confusion,  and  a  look  is 
exchanged  between  her  and  Fendick,  which 
Risby  notices. 

Wilson.  Sir  Daniel  is  engaged  for  a  minute, 
but  he  told  me  to  tell  you  to  wait. 

Fendick.  All  right.  "No  hurry,"  tell  Sir 
Daniel.  (Exit  Wilson,  right.) 

Risby.     Good-bye. 

(She   shakes    his    hand   warmly.      Exit 
Risby,  right.) 

Mrs.  D.     Good  morning. 
Fendick.     Good  morning. 
Mrs.  D.     Anything  new  since  I  saw  you  last 
night  ? 

Fendick.     No.     You're  sure  you  can  pull  this 


I 

78  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

cousin  business  off?  Got  all  your  dates  and  facts 
at  your  fingers'  ends? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes.  We  lived  together  all  our  lives 
except  when  I  was  a  governess. 

Fendick.  That's  the  time  as  you've  got  to  be 
careful  about.  As  I  told  you  last  night,  I  rum- 
maged about  pretty  well  amongst  the  chawbacons 
at  Tawhampton,  and  so  far  as  I  can  gather  I  don't 
think  there's  the  requisite  intelligence  in  Taw- 
hampton to  say  that  you  aren't  Lucy  Allen.  Espe- 
cially as  there  was  a  likeness  between  you  and  your 
cousin. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes;  we  were  the  same  height,  and 
the  same  complexion. 

Fendick.  Then  you  went  as  pupil  teacher  to 
Eastbourne? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Fendick.  Ware  off  Eastbourne.  The  old 
dowager  at  the  school  would  spot  you  at  once. 
And  I've  got  to  mind  my  p's  and  q's  about  the  con- 
cierge at  Vienna 

Mrs.  D.     But  you  say  there  isn't  a  concierge? 

Fendick.  I  fancy  I  can  lay  my  hands  on  an 
old  Italian  friend,  who'll  pass  at  a  pinch.  But  I 
tell  you  this,  if  I  get  out  of  this  business  with  clean 
boots,  I'll  take  good  care  I  don't  land  myself  in  a 
dirty  mess  like  this  a  second  time. 

Mrs.  D.     I'm  sorry  you   should  call   it  that. 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  79 

You  know  that  I'm  quite  willing  you  should  make 

any  charge 

Fendick.  It  isn't  the  money.  If  I'd  known 
what  I  was  letting  myself  in  for  I  wouldn't  have 
done  it  for  a  thousand  pounds.  But  you  worked 
on  my  feelings,  so  that  before  I  knew  where  I  was 
I'd  said  you  weren't  the  woman.  And  I  didn't 
recognize  Sir  Daniel  in  his  private  get-up. 
Hush  !  ( They  compose  themselves.) 

Sir  Daniel  enters,  right. 

Sir  D.     Ah,  Mr.  Fendick,  how  d'ye  do? 

(Goes  tip  to  writing-table  and  takes  up 
Fendick's  notes.) 

Fendick.  How  d'ye  do,  Sir  Daniel  ?  I  wasn't 
aware  when  I  met  you  at  Lady  Eastney's  the  other 
day  that  I  had  the  pleasure  and  honour  of  address- 
ing the  famous  judge  Sir  Daniel  Carteret? 

Sir  D.  No,  Mr.  Fendick?  There  I  had  the 
advantage  of  you,  for  I  was  aware  I  was  address- 
ing Mr.  Fendick,  the  famous  detective. 

Fendick.  Well,  our  professions  are,  in  a  man- 
ner of  speaking,  somewhat  similar,  aren't  they  ? 

Sir  D.  Not  similar,  Mr.  Fendick.  Say  co- 
operative, mutually  assistant  and  necessary  to  each 
other.  You  elicit  the  truth,  I  deal  with  it — when 
I  get  it.     You  catch  the  hare — I  cook  him. 

Fendick.     Him  or  her  as  the  case  may  be. 


80  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.  Him  or  her  as  the  case  may  be.  Well, 
I  don't  think  it  will  take  long  to  hunt  this  hare 
down,  eh  ? 

Fendick.  No,  Sir  Daniel,  I  think  not.  You 
received  my  copy  of  the  evidence  I  obtained  in 
Vienna? 

Sir.  D.  {handling  Fendick's  notes).  Yes,  it 
came  this  morning.     It  seems  very  satisfactory. 

Fendick.  Most  satisfactory,  I  thought,  Sir 
Daniel. 

Sir  D.  You  rely  chiefly  upon  the^  evidence  of 
this  concierge,  I  see.  He  is  perfectly  clear  in  his 
remembrance  of  Miss  Hindemarsh? 

Fendick.     Perfectly  clear. 

Sir  D.  (taking  up  a  photograph).  And  from 
this  photograph  of  Mrs.  Dane,  which,  by  the  way, 
is  a  very  good  one 

Fendick.     Taken  by  my  partner,  Burton. 

Sir  D.  He  is  prepared  to  swear  that  Mrs.  Dane 
is  not  Miss  Hindemarsh  ? 

Fendick.     Yes,  Sir  Daniel. 

Sir  D.  Have  you  sent  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  a 
copy  of  this  evidence  ? 

Fendick.  No,  Sir  Daniel.  When  I  called  on 
her  the  other  day,  after  seeing  you  at  Lady  East- 
ney's,  she  rowed  me  like  a  pickpocket 

SirD.     What  for? 

Fendick.  She  said  she'd  sent  me  to  Vienna  to 
procure  evidence  of  Mrs.  Dane's  guilt,  instead  of 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  81 

which  I'd  gone  and  proved  her  innocent,  with 
other  remarks  quite  infra,  dig.  to  me  and  my 
character. 

Sir  D.     The  woman  must  be  mad ! 

Fendick.  That's  what  I  say — mad  on  the 
rampage  for  social  purity. 

Sir  D.  I'll  see  Mr.  Bulsom-Porter  and  explain 
to  him  how  the  matter  stands. 

Fendick.  Then  I  may  consider  the  job  con- 
cluded so  far  as  I  am  concerned  ? 

Sir  D.  Yes,  I  think  so.  We  know  where  to 
find  you. 

Fendick.  Fifty-four  Buckingham  Street. 
Telegraphic  address,  Sharpshot,  London.  Good- 
day  to  you,  Sir  Daniel.  Good-day  to  you  ma'am. 
Glad  this  little  affair  has  ended  so  pleasantly  for 
all  parties. 

Mrs.  D.  Good-day,  Mr.  Fendick.  Thank  you 
for  the  trouble  you  have  taken. 

Fendick.  Don't  name  it,  ma'am.  I  congratu- 
late you  heartily,  I  assure  you.         (Exit  right.) 

Sir  D.     You  must  let  me  congratulate  you  too. 

Mrs.  D.  You  think  it  is  all  ended?  I'm  free 
from  this  scandal  at  last? 

Sir  D.     Yes.     I  have  something  to  say  to  you. 

Mrs.  D.    Yes? 

Sir  D.  Now  that  we  may  consider  it  over,  I 
don't  mind  owning  that  at  first  I  thought  Mrs. 
Bulsom-Porter's  tale  was  true. 


82  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Mrs.  D.  But  you  don't  now  ?  !  You  believe  in 
me?     You  think  that  I  am  worthy  of  Lionel? 

Sir  D.  Yes,  and  it  gives  me  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure, my  dear  Lucy,  to  welcome  you  into  my  family 
as  my  daughter. 

(He  kisses  her  forehead.     She  bursts  into 
a  little  fit  of  tears.) 
Mrs.  D.     Oh  !     I  can't  help  it !     Don't  look  at 
me  please. 

Sir  D.  Cry  away !  Cry  away !  I'll  go  into 
the  next  room  and  send  a  little  note  to  Bulsom- 
Porter.  Between  us  I  daresay  we  can  put  it  all 
straight.  (Exit  right.') 

Mrs.  D.     (Left  alone,  she  clasps  her  hands  in 
gratitude   and   breathes  out)    I   thank  Thee!     I 
thank  Thee  !     All  my  life  shall  show  my  gratitude  ! 
(She  continues  sobbi)ig.     After  some  mo- 
ments Sir  Daniel  re-enters  with  an 
open  sheet  of  note-paper  on  which  he 
has  begun  to  write  a  letter.) 
Sir  D.     By  the  way,  my  dear  Lucy,  I've  been 

thinking 

(SIic  turns  round  and  he  sees  she  is  still 
crying.) 
Mrs.  D.  Isn't  it  foolish  of  me  ?  This  horrible 
thing  has  been  hanging  over  me  for  weeks,  and 
the  relief  seems  too  great.  There !  It's  all  over 
now!  (Looks  up  at  him  radiantly.)  Yes — 
you've  been  thinking — what? 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  83 

Sir  D.  I've  been  thinking,  Tawhampton  is 
only  six  hours  by  rail 

Mrs.  D.     Well? 

Sir  D.  (taking  up  her  statement  from  table). 
You  lived  there  you  say  till  you  were  fifteen  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  and  then  my  father  and  mother 
took  me  to  Canada. 

Sir  D.  You  had  no  other  home  in  your  child- 
hood? 

Mrs.  D.     No. 

Sir  D.  Have  you  been  there  since  your  return 
to  England  ? 

Mrs.  D.  No.  It's  an  out-of-the-way  place, 
and  I've  had  no  occasion  to  go. 

Sir  D.  Some  of  your  childhood's  friends  must 
be  living  there  still  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes,  I  daresay. 

Sir  D.  You  shall  go  down  there  to-morrow, 
and  hunt  up  some  of  your  old  friends  who  remem- 
ber you  as  Lucy  Allen. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  that's  a  splendid  idea.  I  hadn't 
thought  of  that. 

Sir  D.     Who  were  your  nearest  neighbours  ? 

Mrs.  D.  There  was  Major  Corfield  ;  Mrs.  Gar- 
ton — of  course,  I  was  only  a  child  when  I  left 
Tawhampton,  and  I  didn't  mix  much  with  them. 

Sir  D.  Who  were  the  best  families  in  the 
neighbourhood  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Lady  Margaret  Everden  had  a  place 


84  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

a  few  miles  off,  but  we  only  knew  her  slightly. 
(Cunningly)  Suppose  I'm  not  able  to  find  any- 
body at  Tawhampton  who  can  positively  identify 
me,  you  have  still  sufficient  evidence  to  prove  who 
I  am? 

Sir  D.  I  have  no  evidence  whatever  to  prove 
who  you  are.  I  have  Risby's  and  Fendick's  evi- 
dence to  prove  that  you  are  not  Felicia  Hinde- 
marsh. 

Mrs.  D.     Isn't  that  enough? 

Sir  D.  Not  if  the  matter  comes,  into  court. 
We  shall  then  need  evidence  to  prove  that  you  are 
Lucy  Dane,  nee  Allen,  with  a  history  that  can  be 
traced. 

Mrs.  D.  I  see.  This  doesn't  mean  that  I'm 
to  be  dragged  all  through  this  horrible  scandal 
again  ? 

Sir  D.  No.  I  think  not.  Bulsom-Porter  is 
sure  to  meet  the  matter  with  an  apology.  Still,  I 
think  you  should  go  to  Tawhampton. 

Mrs.  D.     I'm  quite  willing. 

Sir  D.  Did  you  keep  up  any  correspondence 
with  anyone  there  after  you  left  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  for  a  little  while,  but  it  soon 
ceased. 

Sir  D.     Whom  did  you  write  to? 

Mrs.  D.  The  Mrs.  Garton  I  spoke  of  was 
one 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  85 

Sir  D.  You  don't  know  if  she  is  living  there 
still? 

Mrs.  D.     No.     She  was  over  sixty  then 

Sir  D.  Do  you  remember  anybody  else?  (No 
reply.)  I  have  a  topographical  dictionary  some- 
where (looking  along  bookshelves) .  That  might 
help  us,  if  I  can  put  my  hands  on  it  (going  along 
the  bookshelves;  she  watches  him  furtively  and 
with  great  anxiety).  It  used  to  be  somewhere  on 
these  shelves.  I  wonder  what  has  become  of  it 
(returning  to  his  scat).  Who  was  the  parson  of 
the  place  ? 

Mrs.  D.  There  were  several  curates.  Mr. 
Inskip ;  he  was  a  very  stout  little  man  with  spec- 
tacles ;  he  would  remember  me,  and  Mr.  Charles- 
worth 

Sir  D.  Have  you  any  idea  where  either  of 
them  is  to  be  found  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No. 

Sir  D.  Who  taught  you?  Did  you  go  to 
school  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No.     We  had  governesses. 

Sir  D.  "We?"  You  say  you  were  an  only 
child.     Who's  "we?" 

Mrs.  D.     My  cousin  and  I. 

Sir  D.  Your  cousin?  (Turns  over  the  fools- 
cap sheets. )     Your  cousin  ?    A  girl  ? 

Mrs.  D.    Yes. 


86  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.  (naming  hastily  over  the  sheets).     You 
haven't  mentioned  her.     Where  is  she  now  ? 

Mrs.  D.     I  don't  know.     She  left  Tawhampton 
before  I  did. 

Sir  D.     Where  did  she  go? 

Mrs.  D.     She  took  a  situation  as  governess,  I 
think. 

Sir  D.     Did  she  live  with  you  in  Tawhampton  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No.     Her  father  lived  in  the  village, 
and  she  used  to  come  to  our  house  to  be  taught. 

Sir  D.  (running  over  the  notes).    *You  haven't 
mentioned  her  father? 

Mrs.  D.     No.     I  didn't  see  what  he  had  to  do 
with  my  story.     He  died  before  I  left  the  village. 

Sir  D.     What  was  your  cousin's  name? 

Mrs.  D.  (after  a  slight  pause).     Annie. 

Sir  D.     Annie  what? 

Mrs.  D.     Annie  Allen. 

Sir  D.     And  you  have  completely  lost  sight  of 
her? 

Mrs.  D.    Yes. 

Sir   D.     About   the   governesses — what   were 
their  names  ? 

Mrs.    D.     Miss    Fulks,    Miss    Longley,    Miss 
Harrington 

Sir  D.     You  don't  know  where  either  of  them 
is  now  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No.     Are  there  any  other  questions 
you  wish  to  ask  me  ? 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  87 

Sir  D.     No.     I  think  not. 

Mrs.  D.  Then  I'll  go  back  home  and  rest. 
My  head  is  ready  to  split.  Thank  you  for  believ- 
ing in  me.  You  know  Lionel  will  be  happy 
with  me? 

Sir  D.  I  feel  sure  he  will  (going  with  her  to 
the  door,  right.  As  he  comes  to  the  door  his  eye 
ligJits  on  volumes  of  the  topographical  diction- 
ary).    Ah!     Here's  the  very  thing. 

Mrs.  D.     What? 

Sir  D.  (taking  a  volume  out  of  the  shelf). 
Topographical  dictionary  of  England  and  Wales 
(looking  along  the  volumes).  Volume  two, 
Devonshire.  Let's  see  what  it  has  to  say  about 
Tawhampton.  (Taking  the  volume  to  table  and 
turning  over  the  leaves — she  zvatches  him  with 
great  anxiety.)  Devonshire — Devonshire — Taw- 
hampton—  (reading  from  the  book).  Tawhamp- 
ton is  a  parish  and  village — picturesquely  situated 
— mid-division  of  the  county — Wonford  hundred 
— rural  deanery  of  Crockenwell — Archdeaconry 
of  Okestock.  The  church  of  Saint  Andrew  is  a 
building  in  the  Perpendicular  style.  The  living  is 
a  vicarage,  net  yearly  value  £376,  and  has  been 
held  since  eighteen-seventy-five  by — (turns  round 
on  her,  she  shows  great  fright)  by  the  Reverend 
Francis  Hindemarsh  !     Hindemarsh  ? 

Mrs.  D.     He  was  my  uncle. 

Sir  D.     Your  uncle? 


88  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  in 

Mrs.  D.  Sir  Daniel,  I've  done  wrong,  very 
wrong  to  hide  from  you  that  Felicia  Hindemarsh 
was  my  cousin. 

Sir  D.     Felicia  Hindemarsh  was  your  cousin? 

Mrs.  D.  Can't  you  understand  why  I  have 
hidden  it  ?  The  whole  affair  was  so  terrible  !  I 
can't  tell  you  how  keenly  I  felt  the  disgrace,  how 
keenly  I  feel  it  still. 

Sir  D.  But  she  was  only  your  cousin.  Surely 
there  was  no  reason  for  you  to  hide  it  from  Lionel 
and  me. 

Mrs.  D.  I  didn't  intend  to  hide  It  from  you. 
But  I  had  always  concealed  it  from  everybody. 
And  having  once  begun  I  was  obliged  to  go  on. 
Can't  \  ou  understand  ? 

(He  doesn't  reply.  His  face  shows  very 
grave  concern,  and  he  again  walks  up 
and  down  as  if  in  perplexity  as  to  what 
course  he  should  take.) 

Mrs.  D.  (after  a  considerable  pause).  You're 
angry  with  me  ? 

Sir  D.  Not  angry.  But  grieved,  deeply 
grieved  that  you  hadn't  the  courage  to  tell  me  the 
truth. 

Mrs.  D.  I  will  now — the  whole  truth — indeed, 
I  will. 

Sir  D.  (drily).  Yes.  Perhaps  it  would  be  ad- 
visable. 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  89 

(He  is  still  evidently  distressed  and  an- 
noyed; at  length  goes  up  to  writing- 
table,  takes  up  the  foolscap  sheets, 
glances  through  them.) 

Sir  D.  Of  course  this  puts  the  matter  in  a  new 
light. 

Mrs.  D.  How  ?  I'll  tell  Lionel.  Promise  me 
it  sha'n't  part  us  ! 

Sir  D.  There  is  no  reason  you  should  be  parted 
because  you  happen  to  be  the  cousin  of  Felicia 
Hindemarsh.     But 

Mrs.  D.     But  what? 

Sir  D.  Why  didn't  you  deal  openly  with  us? 
See  how  Lionel  loves  you !  How  he  believes  in 
you !  And  I  had  grown  to  like  you.  I  felt  glad 
that  you  were  going  to  be  my  daughter.  Ah,  why 
didn't  you  trust  us  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Oh,  I've  done  wrong,  very  wrong! 
Say  that  it  sha'n't  part  us.     You  forgive  me  ? 

Sir  D.  (after  pause  offers  his  hand,  which  she 
takes  eagerly) .  I  forgive  you.  But  you  wish  me 
to  clear  you  thoroughly  from  this  slander  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes,  indeed.     And  you  will  ? 

Sir  D.  Yes.  But  understand,  my  dear  Lucy, 
from  this  moment  there  must  not  be  the  faintest 
suspicion  of  trifling  with  the  truth.  Understand 
that  most  clearly. 

Mrs.  D.     I  do. 


90  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.  Then  we'll  consider  that  episode  closed, 
and  we'll  make  a  fresh  start. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  ask  me  anything  yon  please. 
I'm  only  too  anxious  to  help  you  in  getting  at  the 
truth. 

Sir  D.  That  ought  not  to  be  very  difficult. 
(Seats  himself  in  revolving  chair  at  writing-table, 
takes  a  pen  and  occasionally  makes  notes  of  her 
answers.)  Now,  Felicia  Hindemarsh  was  your 
cousin  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Sir  D.  Her  father  was  the  vicar  of  Tawhamp- 
ton? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Sir  D.     And  your  other  cousin — Annie  Allen  ? 

Mrs.  D.  I  had  no  other  cousin.  When  you 
asked  what  my  cousin's  name  was  I  couldn't  say 
"Felicia  Hindemarsh,"  so  I  gave  the  first  name  I 
could  think  of. 

Sir  D.  Had  you  any  other  relatives  in  or  near 
Tawhampton  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No. 

Sir  D.  You  were  the  only  child  of — (consult- 
ing foolscap  sheets)  of  Robert  and  Sophia  Allen? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  my  mother  and  her  mother  were 
sisters. 

Sir  D.  (reading  from  foolscap).  Robert  Allen, 
woollen  manufacturer,  Tawhampton.  In  eighty- 
seven,  being  in  difficulties,  he  sold  his  business 


act  hi  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  91 

and  went  to  Montreal.  You,  his  only  child,  went 
with  him,  and  five  years  later  you  married  Charles 
Lewis  Dane,  surgeon,  Montreal.  You  lived  there 
till  two  years  ago  when  your  husband  died,  and  a 
year  ago  you  came  back  to  England,  and  took  up 
your  residence  at  Winchester. 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Sir  D.  There  are,  of  course,  people  in  Mont- 
real who  knew  you  intimately  as  Mrs.  Dane,  and 
can  identify  you  ? 

&  I  rs.  D.     Oh,  yes,  of  course. 

Sir  D.  Will  you  please  make  me  out  a  list  of 
their  names  and  addresses  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes,  certainly.     Shall  I  do  it  now  ? 

{Half  rising  to  go.) 

Sir  D.  No,  by-and-by  will  do.  Now  to  go 
back  to  your  cousin,  Felicia  Hindemarsh.  You 
have  no  idea  where  she  is  now  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Not  the  least. 

Sir  D.     When  was  the  last  time  you  saw  her  ? 

Mrs.  D.     When  I  left  Tawhampton. 

Sir  D.     You  haven't  seen  her  since  ? 

Mrs.  D.  No.  Sir  Daniel,  I  feel  I  could  collect 
my  thoughts  much  better  if  I  were  alone  and  had 
time  to  remember.     I  feel  so  confused 

Sir  D.  I'll  try  not  to  tax  you,  if  you'll  answer 
one  or  two  simple  questions. 

Mrs.  D.     Very  well.     You  won't  think  I'm  try- 


92  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

ing  to  deceive  you  if  I  don't  remember  every  little 
fact? 

Sir  D.  You  will  remember  all  that  I  require  to 
know.  Felicia  Hindemarsh  was  younger  or  older 
than  you  ? 

Mrs.  D.     A  year  younger. 

Sir  D.     Have  you  any  portrait  of  her  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No. 

Sir  D.  You  kept  up  a  correspondence  with  her 
when  you  left  England  ? 

Mrs.  D.  (after  a  little  pause).     Yes. 

Sir  D.     For  how  long? 

Mrs.  D.     For  some  years,  I  think. 

Sir  D.     Have  you  any  letter  of  hers? 

Mrs.  D.  No.  After  the  dreadful  affair  in 
Vienna  I  destroyed  everything. 

Sir  D.  There  would  doubtless  be  persons  in 
Tawhampton  who  would  remember  her,  as  well  as 
you  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Oh,  yes,  I  should  think.  We  only 
lived  there  as  girls,  and  perhaps  people  might  not 
recollect  sufficiently  to  be  sure 

Sir  D.  When  Felicia  Hindemarsh  left  Taw- 
hampton, where  did  she  go  ? 

Mrs.  D.     I  don't  quite  know. 

Sir  D.  But  you  had  letters  from  her.  Where 
did  they  come  from  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Let  me  think — it  was  some  seaside 
place  I  think.  (Pause.) 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  93 

Sir  D.     You  don't  remember? 

Mrs.  D.  No.  I'm  getting  so  terribly  mud- 
dled, I  don't  know  what  I'm  saying.  I — I — you 
frighten  me ! 

Sir  D.     I  frighten  you  ? 

(His  manner  throughout  has  been  calm 
and  kind  but  very  firm.) 

Mrs.  D.  Yes.  I  know  you're  very  kind,  and 
that  I've  nothing  to  fear,  but  I  feel — I  feel  as  if  I 
were  being  thumb-screwed,  and  if  you  ask  me  one 
more  question  I  must  shriek  out  for  help.  (A  lit- 
tle pause.)  I'm  sure  it  would  be  better  for  me  to 
go  and  write  it  all  out  when  I'm  alone  (making 
a  movement  to  go).     Don't  you  think  so ? 

Sir  D.  (arresting  her  with  a  gesture).     No. 

Mrs.  D.  I'm  in  such  a  state  that  I  can't  be  sure 
I'm  giving  you  the  right  answers. 

Sir  D.  (calm,  stem).  You  must  be  sure  you 
are  giving  me  the  right  answers.  Come,  now,  sit 
down,  and  (very  kindly)  remember  that  I  have 
not  a  single  interest  at  stake  except  what  is  yours 
and  Lionel's.  Remember  that  I  have  no  hope  or 
desire  in  this  matter,  except  to  clear  you  tri- 
umphantly in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  and  give  you 
to  Lionel  for  his  wife.  Now  don't  get  anxious 
or  excited.  We'll  soon  get  this  tiresome  business 
over! 

Mrs.  D.  Oh,  I  know  I'm  foolish,  and  you  have 
been  so  patient  and  kind. 


94  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.  This  seaside  place  that  Felicia  Hinde- 
marsh  wrote  from  ?  Was  it  north,  south,  east,  or 
west? 

Mrs.  D.     South,  I  think. 

Sir  D.  Portsmouth,  Brighton,  Hastings,  East- 
bourne ? 

Mrs.  D.     Brighton,  I  think. 

Sir  D.  What  was  she  doing  there?  (No 
reply.)     You  saicfyour  cousin  was  a  governess? 

Mrs.  D.  I  think  she  was  pupil  teacher  at  a 
school. 

Sir  D.  (making  a  note).  Good.  That's  a 
clue. 

Mrs.  D.  (showing  great  fright  as  he  turns  from 
her  ).     A  clue  to  what? 

Sir  D.  If  Felicia  Hindemarsh  was  a  pupil 
teacher  at  a  school  on  the  south  coast,  we  shall 
doubtless  be  able  to  find  out  where  it  was,  and 
some  one  who  remembers  her. 

Mrs.  D.  Yes.  Yes.  But  I  hope  I  shall  find 
somebody  at  Tawhampton  to-morrow 

Sir  D.  Yes.  By  the  way,  I'm  free  to-morrow, 
I  think  I'll  run  down  to  Tawhampton  with  you? 

A I  rs.  D.  ( feign  ing  deligh  t ) .  Will  you  ?  That 
will  be  such  a  help  to  me.  You  can  tell  me  ex- 
actly what  kind  of  evidence  you  want,  and  you 
can  be  sure  whether  people  are  telling  the  truth. 

Sir  D.     Can  I?  (Looking  at  her.) 

Mrs.  D.  (looking  at  him  with  the  utmost  frank- 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  95 

ness).  I  know  that  I  shouldn't  like  to  tell  you 
what  was  false.  I  should  feel  sure  that  you 
would  very  soon  drag  the  truth  out  of  me.  See 
how  quickly  you  forced  me  to  tell  you  that  Felicia 
Hindemarsh  was  my  cousin.  And  I'm  glad  you 
did !  I  should  never  have  been  happy  or  com- 
fortable till  I  had  told  you  and  Lionel.  Then  you 
will  go  down  to  Tawhampton  with  me  ? 

Sir  D.  (Has  been  keenly  zvatcliing  her.)  If 
you  don't  mind. 

Mrs.  D.  I  shall  be  delighted.  I  hope  my  head 
will  be  better,  and  that  I  shall  be  well  enough 
to  go. 

Sir  D.  I  hope  so.  If  not,  I'll  take  a  little 
journey  there  by  myself. 

Mrs.  D.     Ye-es 

Sir  D.     Was  your  cousin  anything  like  you  ? 

Mrs.  D.  I  think  there  was  a  likeness.  I  dare- 
say it  was  that  which  made  Mr.  Risby  mistake  me 
for  her. 

Sir  D.  Possibly.  But  Mr.  Fendick  said  the 
other  day  that  you  were  not  in  the  least  like  Felicia 
Hindemarsh. 

Mrs.  D.  Did  he?  But  one  person  often  sees 
a  likeness  where  another  sees  none.  What  time 
shall  we  start  for  Tawhampton  to-morrow  ? 

Sir  D.  I'll  look  out  the  trains  by-and-by.  .  . 
Then  you  never  saw  your  cousin  after  childhood  ? 


96  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Mrs.  D.  Xo — I — I  (suddenly  breaks  down). 
I  can't  bear  it !     I  can't  bear  it ! 

SirD.     What? 

Mrs.  D.  Your  questioning  me  as  if  I  was 
guilty !  I  feel  you  suspect  me  still.  Tell  me,  do 
you  trust  me  thoroughly?  (He  does  not  reply.) 
Ah,  you  see  you  do  not  answer ! — So  be  it.  Make 
me  out  a  list  of  the  questions  you  want  answered 
and  I'll  answer  them.  But  I  can  endure  this  tor- 
ture no  longer.  (Going  to  door.) 

Sir  D.  Come,  my  dear  Lucy,  this  won't  do. 
{Takes  her  gently  back.)  We  are  here  to  get  at 
the  truth,  aren't  we? 

Mrs.  D.  Yes,  and  you  must  see  how  ready  and 
willing  I  am  to  answer  your  questions — I'm  very 
faint 

Sir  D.  I'll  only  keep  you  a  moment.  Now  I 
am  going  to  ask  you  one  question.  Think  well 
before  you  reply,  because  all  your  happiness  and 
Lionel's  depend  upon  my  receiving  a  correct 
answer. 

Mrs.  D.     Well  ? ! 

Sir  D.  When  was  the  last  time  you  saw  your 
cousin  Felicia  Hindemarsh  ?       I  A  long  pause.) 

Mrs.  D.     I'll  tell  you  everything. 

Sir  D.     Go  on. 

Mrs.  D.  I  don't  know  what  you'll  think  of  me. 
I  don't  care.     I'd  almost  rather  everybody  believed 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  97 

me  guilty  than  suffer  what  I  have  done  the  last 
few  weeks.     It's  horrible  ! 

Sir  D.  When  was  the  last  time  you  saw  Fe- 
licia Hindemarsh? 

Mrs.  D.  After  the  fearful  scandal  in  Vienna 
she  wrote  to  me  in  Montreal.  She  was  desperate 
and  begged  us  to  shelter  her.  We  had  been  like 
sisters,  and  I  wrote  to  her  to  come  out  to  us,  and 
we  would  give  her  a  home. 

Sir  D.     And  you  did? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes,  till  her  death. 

Sir  D.     When  was  that? 

Mrs.  D.     About  a  year  ago. 

Sir  D.     Where?  (Pause.) 

Mrs.  D.     At  Montreal. 

Sir  D.  She  lived  with  you  in  Montreal — as 
Felicia  Hindemarsh  ? 

Mrs.  D.     No  ;  we  called  her  Mrs.  Allen. 

Sir  D.  Give  me  the  names  and  addresses  of 
those  people  who  knew  you  in  Montreal  as  Mrs. 
Dane,  and  her  as  Mrs.  Allen. 

Mrs.  D.  I'll  write  them  out.  Let  me  bring  it 
to  you  this  evening.  What  are  you  going  to  do 
with  it? 

Sir  D.  I'm  going  to  prove  that  you  are  Lucy 
Dane — if  you  are  Lucy  Dane. 

(She  looks  at  him.) 

Sir  D.     Does  Risby  know  who  you  are  ? 

Mrs.  D.     What  do  you  mean  ? 

G 


98  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

Sir  D.     Does  Risby  know  who  you  are  ? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes — he  knows  that  I  am  Mrs.  Dane. 

Sir  D.     The  cousin  of  Felicia  Hindemarsh. 

Mrs.  D.  {after  a  pause).     Yes 

Sir  D.  You  told  Risby,  a  mere  acquaintance, 
that  Felicia  Hindemarsh  was  your  cousin,  and  you 
didn't  tell  Lionel,  you  didn't  tell  me? 

Mrs.  D.     I — I (she  looks  at  him).     I — oh 

— I'll  answer  you  no  more.  Believe  what  you 
please  of  me  !  I  want  no  more  of  your  help !  Let 
me  go !  » 

Sir  D.  (stopping  her).  How  much  does  Risby 
know  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Don't  I  tell  you  he  knows  I  am  Mrs. 
Dane? 

Sir  D.     Woman,  you're  lying ! 

Mrs.  D.  (-flashes  out  on  him).  How  dare  you? 
Flow  dare  you?  (Stands  confronting  him.) 

Sir  D.  (looking  straight  at  her).  I  say  you're 
lying!     You  are  Felicia  Hindemarsh! 

(He  looks  at  her  steadily.  Her  eyes  drop. 
She  sinks  on  her  knees  before  him, 
seizes  his  hand  in  supplication,  looks  at 
him  appcalingly;  he  angrily  withdraws 
his  hand.) 

Mrs.  D.     Don't  tell  Lionel ! 

Sir  D.  (with  a  little  laugh).     Not  tell  Lionel ? 

Mrs.  D.     (Dry,  quiet  voice.)     I'm  not  a  bad 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  99 

woman.  You  don't  know.  You  wouldn't  con- 
demn me  if  you  knew  all. 

Sir  D.     Tell  me. 

Mrs.  D.  I'd  been  brought  up  in  a  village.  I 
was  a  child  in  knowledge.  I  knew  nothing  of  life, 
nothing  of  the  world.  Mr.  Trent  was  very  kind 
to  me.  He  was  rich  and  distinguished  and  flat- 
tered me  by  his  notice.  And  I — oh,  why  didn't 
somebody  warn  me?  Why  did  they  keep  me 
ignorant  ?  I  didn't  even  love  him,  not  in  that  way 
— not  as  I  love  Lionel.  I  tell  you  I  knew  nothing ! 
Nothing !  Till  it  was  too  late !  You  believe  me, 
don't  you  ? 

Sir  D.     Tell  me  all. 

Mrs.  D.  I  hated  myself.  I  should  have  hated 
him,  but  he  was  very  kind.  It  went  on  till  all 
was  discovered.  His  wife  killed  herself.  He 
was  frantic  with  grief  and  went  out  of  his  mind. 
I  thought  I'd  kill  myself — I  did  buy  the  poison — 
but  I  hadn't  the  courage.  My  cousin  Lucy  was 
living  in  Montreal.  She  was  an  angel — she  took 
me  into  her  home  and  gave  out  that  I  was  a  widow. 
My  child  was  born  there. 

Sir  D.     There  was  a  child? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

Sir  D.     Is  it  living? 

Mrs.  D.     Yes. 

SirD.     Where  is  it? 

Mrs.  D.     In  North  Devon,  with  an  old  servant 


ioo  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  hi 

of  ours.  I  see  him  every  month.  He's  the  sweet- 
est boy,  and  I  love  him  so  much — next  to  Lionel. 
He'll  never  be  any  trouble — or  disgrace.  Now 
you  know  everything.     I'm  not  a  bad  woman. 

Sir  D.  I'm  sorry  for  you,  believe  me,  very 
sorry.  But  why  did  you  wade  through  all  that 
morass  of  lies  and  deceit?  Why  didn't  you  have 
the  courage  to  tell  me  the  truth  ? 

Mrs.  D.  Because  I  felt  that  you  would  part  me 
from  Lionel.  If  you  loved  a  woman  as  I  love 
him,  wouldn't  you  tell  lies,  wouldn't  you  dare 
anything,  to  keep  her?  Yon  know  you  would! 
You  know  you  would  !  And  so  did  I.  and  I'd  do 
it  again.     You  won't  tell  Lionel? 

Sir  D.  He  must  be  told.  And  this  marriage 
must  be  broken  off. 

Mrs.  D.  Why?  Nobody  need  know.  Mr. 
Risby  won't  betray  me.  The  detective  can't.  I've 
paid  him  and  he  daren't.     You  won't  tell  Lionel? 

Sir  D.     He  must  be  told. 

Mrs.  D.  It  can  be  hushed  up.  I'll  make  him 
such  a  good  wife.  Give  me  this  one  chance — 
don't  tell  him.     Give  me  this  one  chance ! 

Sir  D.     He  must  be  told. 

Enter  Lionel  at  door,  very  excited. 

Lal.  Lucy.  I  went  for  the  keys ;  they  weren't 
there.      The  escritoire  was  locked.     Just  as  I  was 


act  in  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  101 

coming  away  Risby  came  up  with  a  note  for  you. 
While  he  was  talking  at  the  door  with  the  maid, 
she  said  something  about  his  having  called  upon 
you  this  morning  before  lunch.  Was  that  so? 
You  met  him  here  as  if  you  hadn't  seen  him.  I 
couldn't  understand  it — I've  been  questioning  him 
all  this  time,  but  he  only  puts  me  off.     He  says  I 

must  ask  you 

Mrs.  D.  (to  Sir  Daniel).     Tell  him. 

Enter  Lady  Eastney. 

Lady  E.     Well,  how  is  it  going?     Have  you 
got  all  the  evidence  you  want  ? 

aTrs.  D.     Will  you  come  home  with  me?     I 
wish  to  speak  to  you. 

Lady  E.     What's  the  matter? 
Mrs.  D.  Come  home  with  me. 
Lady  E.     What  has  happened  ? 
Mrs.  D.     I  want  a  friend.     Don't  be  hard  on 
me !     Don't  be  hard  on  me ! 

(Exit  Mrs.  Dane,  right,  followed  by 
Lady  Eastney.  Lionel  is  going 
after  them.  Sir  Daniel  snatches  his 
arm,  and  holds  him  firmly.) 

CURTAIN 


ACT  IV 

Scene — The  same  as  Act  III.  Time,  the  following 
Saturday  evening.  Windows  open.  Discover  Lal,  very- 
haggard  and  restless,  walking  up  and  down.  Enter 
Wilson  at  door,  goes  over  to  window.'stops. 

WlLSON.     Sir  Daniel  has  finished  dinner,  sir. 

(  No  reply.) 
(Exit  Wilson  at  window,  returns  in  a 
few  moments  bringing  in  a  rug  and  a 
light  garden  chair,  which  he  leaves  in 
the  bow  of  window;  lie  folds  the  rug 
and  places  it  on  arm  of  sofa.) 
Shall  I  keep  any  dinner  for  you,  sir? 
Lal.     Eh — no  thank  you,  Wilson. 

(Exit  Wilson  at  door.  Lal  comes  dozen 
to  sofa  and  sits  in  a  despairing  atti- 
tude.) 

Enter  Janet  at  door  in  evening  dress — at  first  she 
does  not  see  him. 

Janet.     I  beg  pardon. 
102 


act  iv  AIRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  103 

Lal.     Janet — you  wish  to  see  my  father  ? 

Janet.  No,  I've  just  left  him.  Auntie  and  I 
have  been  dining  here. 

Lal.     Oh  yes.     I'd  forgotten. 

Janet.  We  wondered  what  had  become  of 
you.      Why  didn't  you  come  in  to  dinner  ? 

Lal.     I'm  not  fit  for  any  company  but  my  own. 

Janet.  Sir  Daniel  and  Auntie  are  taking 
coffee  in  the  veranda.  Won't  you  come  and  join 
them  ? 

Lal.  I'd  rather  not.  Please  don't  take  any 
notice  of  me. 

(She  is  going  off  at  door — he  sits  down 
again  in  despair — she  suddenly  stops; 
comes  back  to  him.) 

Janet.  Mr.  Carteret,  I  don't  know  what  has 
happened.  But  I  can  see  there's  something  the 
matter  with  you.  Perhaps  you've  had  a  great  sor- 
row. Well,  you'll  pull  yourself  together  and  be  a 
man.  It'll  tak  you  all  your  time,  I've  nae  doubt, 
but  you've  just  got  to  do  it,  d'ye  understand? 

Lal.     I'll  try. 

Janet.  And  you  needn't  think  that  you're  the 
only  poor  body  on  earth  that's  badly  used.  For  if 
ye  did  but  know  there's  many  a  man,  and  many 
a  wee  bit  of  a  woman  that  has  just  as  thankless  a 
lot  as  yours.  So  I'd  not  be  wasting  too  much  pity 
on  myself  if  I  were  you. 

Lal.     I  won't,  Janet. 


104  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Janet.  And  if  you've  lost  one  friend,  perhaps 
that  may  be  the  very  means  of  showing  you  the 
value  of  them  that  are  left. 

Enter  Lady  Eastney,  at  door,  in  dinner  dress. 

Janet.  I've  just  been  giving  him  the  very  best 
advice  in  the  world.  (Goes  to  window.) 

Lady  E.     How  d'ye  do,  Lionel  ? 

Lal.     How  d'ye  do,  Lady  Eastney  ? 

Lady  E.  {comes  very  tenderly  and  sympathet- 
ically to  him,  takes  both  hands  of  his  in  hers,  looks 
at  him,  shakes  her  head  at  him ) .  No  sleep  again  ? 
No  appetite? 

Lal.  {withdraws  his  hands).  I  can't  eat. 
And  I  fed  I  shall  never  sleep  again. 

Lady  E.  Your  father  is  grieving  very  much 
about  you. 

Lal.  I'm  sorry,  for  there  never  was  anybody 
less  worth  grieving  about  than  I  am. 

Lady  E.  Go  to  him.  Try  and  eat  something 
just  to  please  him. 

Lal.  It  would  choke  me.  Don't  bother  any 
more  about  me,  Lady  Eastney.  I  daresay  I  shall 
get  over  it  by  the  time  I'm  dead. 

(Going  off  at  window.) 

Lady  E.  Lionel !  (He  stops.  In  a  lozv  tone) 
You've  not  seen  her  since 

Lal.     No,  I've  kept  my  word,  and  broken  my 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  105 

heart.  I  heard  the  clock  chime  every  quarter  of 
an  hour  last  night.  I  feel  I  should  like  to  lie  at 
the  bottom  of  the  river  to-night  where  I  couldn't 
hear  it.  (Going  off  at  windoiv.) 

Lady  E.     Lionel,  where  are  you  going? 

Lal.  Does  it  matter  where  I  go,  or  what  be- 
comes of  me? 

Janet  (trying  to  stop  him).     Mr.  Carteret 

Lal.     Let  me  be,  Janet ! 

(Going  off  at  window.) 

Lady  E.     Lionel !  you  won't  do  anything  rash  ? 

Lal  (at  window).  You  needn't  fear  I  shall 
kill  myself.  I'm  too  much  of  a  coward.  But — 
tell  my  father  I  can  keep  my  promise  no  longer. 
I'm  going  across  to  her.  {Exit  at  window. ) 

Janet  (bursts  into  tears  and  throws  her  arms 
around  Lady  Eastxey's  neck).  Auntie,  I  can 
just  bear  it  no  longer !  My  heart  will  break  !  Let 
Mrs.  Patterson  take  me  away — anything — any- 
thing— so  that  I  can  be  at  work  and  forget ! 

Lady  E.  Hush,  hush,  my  dickey !  You 
mustn't  be  a  coward  ! 

Enter  Sir  Daniel  at  door.     Janet  dries  her  tears. 

Lady  E.     There !     There's  a  brave  Janet. 
Janet.     I'm  just  a  poor  silly  body  that  ought  to 
know  better ! 

(Sir  Daniel  passes  his  hand  caressingly 
over  her  head.) 


106  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Lady  E.  Janet,  would  you  go  home  and  look 
in  my  dressing-table?  You'll  find  a  sleeping 
powder  in  the  second  drawer 

Janet.     Yes,  I  know. 

Lady  E.     Bring  it  to  me  here. 

Janet.     Yes,  Auntie.  (Exit,  right.) 

Lady  E.  We  must  manage  to  give  Lionel  a 
little  sleep  to-night.  He's  nearly  distracted  for 
want  of  it. 

Sir  D.  Poor  boy!  I'm  rather  glad  he  has 
taken  it  so  violently.  , 

LadyE.     Why? 

Sir  D.  It  means  that  in  six  months  it  will  be 
out  of  his  system. 

Lady  E.  It's  a  genuine  love.  Don't  you  think 
it  will  last? 

Sir  D.  A  few  months.  But  even  if  it  goes 
deeper  than  I  think  it  does,  it  must  be  broken  off. 

Lady  E.  Why?  Nobody  except  ourselves 
need  know  that  this  story  is  true. 

Sir  D.  The  Bulsom-Porters  know  it — the 
whole  neighbourhood  must  know  it  before  long. 

Lady  E.  The  Bulsom-Porters  think  that  Mr. 
Risby  was  really  mistaken.  The  Canon  has  them 
to  dinner  to-night,  and  he's  doing  his  best  to  get 
her  to  sign  the  apology  you  drew  up. 

Sir  D.  We  can't  ask  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  for 
an  apology  now ! 

Lady  E.     Indeed  we  can.     Whatever  happens 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  107 

to  Mrs.  Dane,  I'm  quite  determined  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  shall  make  a  handsome  apology,  and  every- 
body shall  know  it;  then  I  don't  think  the  story 
will  ever  be  repeated. 

Sir  D.  And  will  Mrs.  Dane  continue  to  live 
in  Sunningwater? 

Lady  E.  She's  quite  willing  to  do  whatever 
you  and  Lionel  wish.  I've  been  with  her  all  the 
afternoon.  Oh,  the  pearls  of  wisdom  and  good 
advice  that  dropped  from  this  small  mouth  !  And 
I'  felt  myself  such  a  transcendent  humbug  all  the 
while ! 

Sir  D.     Why  ? 

Lady  E.  Aren't  we  all  humbugs?  Isn't  it  all 
a  sham  ?  Don't  we  all  have  one  code  on  our  lips 
and  another  in  our  hearts,  one  set  of  rules  to  ad- 
monish our  neighbours,  and  another  to  guide  our 
own  conduct?  Why  should  I  lecture  that  poor 
woman  on  her  duty  to  Society?  Why  should  I 
take  her  name  off  my  visiting  list,  and  pretend 
that  I  can't  know  her  ? 

Sir  D.  Because  you're  a  virtuous  woman,  and 
she's  not. 

Lady  E.  That's  true — as  it  happens — and  so 
far  as  it  goes.  Small  credit  to  me !  I  wasn't  in 
her  place — I  didn't  meet  with  her  temptations — 
and  if  I  had  I  should  have  been  cold-hearted 
enough,  or  cunning  enough  to  resist. 

Sir  D.     Very  well.     That's  all  a  man  can  ask; 


io8  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

the  temperament — call  it  virtue  or  cunning — that 
resists. 

Lady  E.  Not  a  pretty  kind  of  cunning,  that! 
And  sometimes  the  man  gets  the  other  kind  of 
cunning — the  cunning  that  conceals  ! 

Sir  D.  Very  well.  We  can't  help  ourselves. 
But  at  any  rate  the  outside  of  the  platter  must  be 
clean. 

Lady  E.  Oh,  aren't  you  Pharisees  and  tyrants, 
all  of  you?  And  don't  you  make  cowards  and 
hypocrites  of  all  of  us?  Don't  you  4ead  us  into 
sin,  and  then  condemn  us  for  it  ?  Aren't  you  first 
our  partners,  and  then  our  judges? 

Sir  D.  The  rules  of  the  game  are  severe.  If 
you  don't  like  them,  leave  the  sport  alone.  They 
will  never  be  altered. 

Lady  E.  But  where's  the  justice  of  the  whole 
business  ?  Here  is  this  poor  woman  whom  Lionel 
loves,  and  who  loves  Lionel  with  all  her  heart — 
why  shouldn't  he  marry  her? 

Sir  D.  If  he  were  your  son  would  you  wish 
him  to  marry  her  ?  Would  you  wish  all  his  after- 
life to  be  poisoned  by  the  thought  that  she  had 
deceived  him,  that  she  had  belonged  to  another 
man,  and  that  man  and  his  child  still  living? 
Wouldn't  you  wish  your  boy  to  have  the  love  of  a 
girl  who  could  give  him  all  herself?  Do,  for 
heaven's  sake,  let  us  get  rid  of  all  this  sentimental 
cant   and   sophistry   about   this    woman-business 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  109 

{unconsciously  getting  very  heated).  A  man  de- 
mands the  treasure  of  a  woman's  purest  love.  It's 
what  he  buys  and  pays  for  with  the  strength  of  his 
arm  and  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  It's  the  condition 
on  which  he  makes  her  his  wife  and  fights  the 
world  for  her  and  his  children.  It's  his  fiercest  in- 
stinct, and  he  does  well  to  guard  it ;  for  it's  the 
very  mainspring  of  a  nation's  health  and  sound- 
ness. And  whatever  I've  done,  whatever  I've 
been  myself,  I'm  quite  resolved  my  son  sha'n't 
marry  another  man's  mistress.  There's  the  plain 
sense  of  the  whole  matter,  so  let  us  have  no  more 
talk  about  patching  up  things  that  ought  not  to  be 
patched  up,  that  can't  be  patched  up,  and  that 
sha'n't  be  patched  up  if  I  can  stop  them  from  being 
patched  up ! 

Lady  E.  {Looks  at  him  very  much  amused.) 
I  wouldn't  get  into  a  temper  about  it  if  I  were 
you. 

Sir  D.     Am  I  in  a  temper  ?     Pray  forgive  me. 

Lady  E.  I  rather  like  you  in  a  temper.  It 
shows  me  that  if  I  marry  you,  you'd  be  my  master. 

Sir  D.  Let  me  assure  you  I'd  try.  Will  you 
take  me  ? 

Lady  E.  Couldn't  you  manage  to  put  a  little 
of  the  fervour  you  waste  on  social  ethics  into  your 
love-making? 

Sir  D.     I'll  try.     Will  you  take  me  ? 


no  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Lady  E.  (pauses,  looks  at  him  merrily).  I'm 
really  half  inclined 

Enter  Wilson  at  door. 

Wilson.  Canon  Bonsey  would  like  to  speak  to 
you  for  a  moment,  Sir  Daniel. 

Sir  D.     Show  him  in.  (Exit  Wilson.) 

Lady  E.  He  has  come  from  the  Bulsom- 
Porters.  Now  remember  that  we  can't  go  back 
from  the  position  we  have  taken  up — the  fullest 
apology.  * 

Enter  Wilson  showing  in  Canon  Bonsey. 
Wilson  (announcing).     Canon  Bonsey. 

Enter  Canon.     Exit  Wilson. 

Canon.  How  d'ye  do,  Sir  Daniel  ?  How  d'ye 
do,  Lady  Eastney  ? 

Lady  E.  (shaking  hands).  How  d'ye  do, 
Canon  ? 

Canon  (making  a  wry  face).  I've  had  the 
Bulsom-Porters  to  dinner.  And  seeing  that 
Bulsom-Porter  knows  a  glass  of  good  wine  I  felt 
bound  to  bring  out  my  elegant  eighty-nine  Ayala 
and  my  sixty-three  port.  I  cannot  imagine  a 
more  unworthy  office  for  either  vintage  than  that 
of  assisting  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter's  digestion. 
However,  I've  persuaded  her  to  go  home  and  fetch 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  in 

the  apology  you  drew  up  last  Wednesday. 
They're  coming  on  here,  and  I  think,  with  a  little 
judicious  handling,  we  shall  persuade  the  lady  to 
sign  it.  Don't  I  hear  voices  ?  (Goes  to  the  win- 
dow.) They're  coming.  Eh?  (looks  very  grave 
and  shocked).  They're  quarreling  in  the  lane.  I 
heard  an  ejaculation  from  Bulsom-Porter  which 
ill  accords  with  the  sylvan  beauty  of  the  scene. 
What?!  (Exit  quickly  at  ivindow.) 

Sir  D.  Take  care  how  you  work  this  apology 
business.  Suppose  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  finds  out 
that  we  know  Mrs.  Dane  is  an  impostor? 

Lady  E.  We  don't  know  it.  Mr.  Risby  and 
the  detective  say  she  isn't.  I  intend  that  Mrs. 
Dane  shall  leave  this  place,  if  she  does  leave  it, 
without  a  stain  on  her  character.  And  I  intend 
that  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  shall  stay  in  it,  if  she 
does  stay  in  it,  as  a  self-confessed  scandal-monger. 

Sir  D.     But  I  can't  exact  an  apology 

Lady  E.  (very  firmly).     lean!     Hush! 

(As  the  Canon  appears  at  window.) 

Canon  enters  at  window  leading  in  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  very  carefully.  Bulsom-Porter  fol- 
lows. Bulsom-Porter  and  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  arc  evidently  in  a  bad  temper  with  each 
other. 

Canon.     Take  care  of  the  window-threshold. 


112  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Perhaps  Sir  Daniel  will  excuse  us  entering  this 
way? 

Sir  D.  Certainly.  (To  Mrs.  Bulsom-Por- 
ter, shaking  hands)  How  d'ye  do? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     How  d'ye  do,  Sir  Daniel? 

Sir  D.     How  d'ye  do  ? 

(To    BULSOM-PORTER.        BULSOM-PORTER 

says  nothing,  but  shakes  hands, 
glances  at  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter. 
Sir  Daniel  gives  a  sympathetic  hand- 
shake behind  the  back  of  Mrs.  Bul- 
som-Porter, zvho  is  exchanging  a  con- 
strained bow  with  Lady  Eastney.) 
Canon  (to  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter).  Did  you 
bring  the  paper? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (produces  the  paper  that  Sir 
Daniel  has  given  her  at  the  end  of  Act  II).  I 
shall  not  sign  this. 

Canon  (taken  aback).  But,  my  dear  lady,  I 
understood  you  at  dinner  to  say  that  you  would 
sign  it. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Yes.  But  since  dinner,  Mr. 
Bulsom-Porter  has  chosen  to  use  such  dreadful 
language  to  me,  that  I  must  first  of  all  insist  upon 
an  apology  from  him. 

(Canon  turns  helplessly  to  Bulsom-Porter.) 
Bul.-P.     Tell  her  to  kindly  send  in  a  form  to 
Rawlinson,  my  lawyer,  and  I'll  sign  it. 

Canon.     Hush!     (Turns   to    Mrs.    Bulsom- 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  113 

Porter.)  Mr.  Bulsom-Porter  is  only  too 
anxious  to  withdraw  his  language  to  you,  as  I  am 
sure  you  are  only  too  anxious  to  withdraw  your 
allegations  against  Mrs.  Dane. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  object  to  the  word  "allega- 
tions."    I  made  certain  statements 

Canon.  "Statements,"  by  all  means.  Which 
you  are  anxious  to  withdraw. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  object  to  the  word  "with- 
draw." 

Canon.     Which  you  will  not  repeat. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  Which  will  not  be  repeated. 
The  word  "apologize"  is  used  in  this  paper.  I 
cannot  apologize  to  Mrs.  Dane.  I  would  rather 
go  to  gaol. 

(Canon  goes  to  Bulsom-Porter.) 

Bul.-P.  (in  a  low  tone,  but  sufficiently  loud  for 
his  wife  to  hear).  Kindly  arrange  a  settlement 
on  that  basis. 

Canon  (tries  to  sooth  her).  Hush!  (To 
Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter).  You  will  not  apologize. 
I  suppose  you  would  not  mind  expressing  your 
regret  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  do  not  mind  some  slight  ex- 
pression of  regret,  but  I  will  never  apologize. 

Canon  (helpless).  Sir  Daniel,  what  do  you 
advise  under  the  circumstances? 

Sir  D.  (looks  at  Lady  Eastney).  Well,  I — 
a 

H 


U4  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Lady  E.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter,  will  you  please 
allow  me  to  look  at  that  paper?  (Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  gives  paper  to  Lady  Eastney,  zvho  reads 
it.  Canon,  Sir  Daniel,  and  Bulsom-Porter 
talk  apart. 

Lady  E.  (having  read).     I'm  surprised! 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     At  what? 

Lady  E.  At  Sir  Daniel's  moderation.  (Sir 
Daniel  makes  a  face.)  I  don't  think  you  quite 
realize  the  very  awkward  position  you  are  in. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     How? 

Lady  E.  (to  Bulsom-Porter).  You  thor- 
oughly approve  of  this? 

Bul.-P.     Most  certainly. 

Lady  E.  Sir  Daniel,  what  would  happen  if  Mr. 
Bulsom-Porter  were  to  instruct  his  lawyer  to  offer 
his  own  apologies  to  Mrs.  Dane,  at  the  same  time 
declaring  that  he  wouldn't  hold  himself  respon- 
sible for  what  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  does  or  says? 

Sir  D.     Well,  a — I  scarcely  know. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  I  shall  not  be  bound  by  my  hus- 
band's actions. 

Lady  E.  Isn't  it  whether  he  will  be  bound  by 
yours?  The  only  question  is  as  to  how  far  Mr. 
Bulsom-Porter  is  prepared  to  go 

Bul.-P.  My  dear  Lady  Eastney,  I  am  pre- 
pared to  go  to  any  lengths.  I  will  offer  Mrs. 
Dane  the  most  abject  apology  on  my  knees,  and  I 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  115 

will  allow  her  lawyer  to  dictate  it  in  any  terms, 
and  make  any  use  of  it  that  he  pleases. 

Lady  E.  I  think  that  will  meet  our  views,  Sir 
Daniel  ? 

Sir  D.     Yes,  yes.     I  think  so 

Lady  E.  Mrs.  Dane  will  then  bring  her  action 
against  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter? 

Sir  D.     Yes,  I  suppose  so 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     Action  against  me  ? ! 

Lady  E.  And  call  Mr.  Bulsom-Porter  for  a 
witness 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  What?  My  husband  will  not 
dare 

Bul.-P.     My  dear,  I  shall ! 

Lady  E.  I  suppose  there  is  no  doubt  whatever 
of  the  effect  upon  the  jury,  Sir  Daniel? 

Sir  D.  None  whatever,  I  should  say — or  upon 
the  judge. 

Lady  E.  (to  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter).  Don't 
you  see  what  a  very  awkward  position  you  are  in  ? 
Mr.  Bulsom-Porter,  will  you  step  across  to  Mrs. 
Dane's  with  me  at  once  ? 

Bul.-P.     Delighted. 

Lady  E.  (to  Bulsom-Porter).  My  cloak  is 
in  the  next  room.  (Going  off  at  door.) 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  One  moment!  I  do  not  object 
to  sign  this  if  Sir  Daniel  will  remove  the  word 
"apology." 

Lady  E.     It  must  be  signed  exactly  as  it  stands. 


n6  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  No!  I  will  do  anything  that 
Sir  Daniel  may  require,  but  I  will  never  apologize. 

Lady  E.     Now,  Mr.  Bulsom-Porter 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  One  moment,  please.  (Very 
long  pause.)  Sir  Daniel,  if  I  had  to  sign  this — 
agreement,  where  should  I  have  to  put  my  name  ? 

Sir  D.  (pointing).     There. 

Lady  E.  (takes  up  a  pen  from  writing-table). 
Do  you  like  a  broad  nib  ?     Or  a  quill  ? 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.     Neither. 

Lady  E.  (takes  up  another).  This  seems  a 
nice  one. 

(Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  takes  it  after 
great  hesitation,  at  last  dashes  off  the 
signature  and  bursts  into  a  -fit  of  hys- 
terical tears.) 

Lady  E.  (offering  pen).  Canon  will  you  sign 
as  witness  ? 

Canon.     Certainly.  (Signs.) 

Lady  E.  And  I  will  put  my  autograph,  and 
then  the  interesting  document  will  be  complete. 

(Signs.) 

Canon.  And  peace  will  be  restored  to  my  dis- 
tracted parish. 

Mrs.  Bul.-P.  (getting  more  and  more  hysteri- 
cal). If  any  future  question  arises,  I  wish  it  to 
be  distinctly  understood  that  my  signature  was 
forced  from  me,  against  my  will,  and  under 
threats  from  my  husband — and — I'm  quite  sure 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  117 

Jim  Risby  knows  something  dreadful  about  that 
woman — and  if  my  husband  had  the  least  sense 
of  what  was  due  to  his  wife — I — understand — I 
do  not  apologize.  I  have  not,  and  I  never  will 
apologize,  and,  oh — (to  Bulsom-Porter).  Let 
me  pass,  sir ! 

(Exit  in  hysterics  at  the  window.     Pause.) 

Bul.-P.  (very  quietly).  It's  my  silver  wedding 
on  the  twentieth  of  next  month. 

Canon  (to  Bulsom-Porter).  Mrs.  Bulsom- 
Porter  seemed  very  much  upset.  Oughtn't  one  of 
us  attend  her  home  ? 

Bul.-P.     Well,  perhaps,  you  will. 
(Canon  goes  up  to  window — stops,  comes  back.) 

Canon.  Perhaps  we  had  better  both  go.  Are 
you  ready? 

Bul.-P.  (shrugs  his  shoulder).  I  shall  be 
there  before  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  has  recovered. 
Good-night,  Sir  Daniel.  My  very  best  thanks. 
Good-night,  my  dear  Lady  Eastney,  you  have 
saved  me  from  a  law-suit  and  a  thousand  pounds 
damages. 

Lady  E.     Don't  mention  it.     Good-night. 

Bul.-P.     Now,  Canon! 

(Goes  to  window,  takes  out  cigar  and 
lights  it  at  window.) 

Canon.     Good-night,  Sir  Daniel. 
Sir  D.     Good-night,  my  dear  Canon. 


n8  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  rv 

Canon.     Good-night,  dear  Lady  Eastney. 

Lady  E.  (shaking  hands).  Good-night, 
Canon. 

Canon.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  Mrs. 
Dane.  Of  course  she  will  take  the  stall  at  the 
bazaar.  And  I'll  bring  the  Duchess  to  call  upon 
her  one  day  next  week. 

(Exit  after  Bulsom-Porter  at  window.) 

Sir  D.     Did  you  hear  that? 

Lady  E.  Yes.  I  must  persuade  Mrs.  Dane  to 
go  away  for  a  few  months.  , 

Sir  D.     And  then? 

Lady  E.  I  do  want  to  save  Mrs.  Dane.  How 
can  I  ? 

Sir  D.  Impossible.  The  thing  can't  be 
patched  up.     It  ought  not  to  be  patched  up. 

Lady  E.     What  is  to  be  done  ? 

Sir  D.  We  must  get  Lai  away  from  her ;  take 
him  out  to  Egypt ;  give  him  some  work ;  throw 
him  into  young  society,  and  trust  to  time  and  his 
healthy  instincts  to  bring  him  round. 

Lady  E.  I  suppose  you  are  right.  But  in  any 
case  I'll  give  Mrs.  Dane  this  certificate  of  char- 
acter from  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter. 

(Taking  up  the  paper  which  Mrs.  Bul- 
som-Porter has  signed). 

Enter  Janet  at  door  with  evening  cloak  over  her 
dress. 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  119 

Janet.  Here's  the  sleeping  powder,  Auntie. 
Will  you  be  coming  home  now  ? 

(Lady  Eastney  takes  sleeping  powder.) 

Lady  E.  In  a  little  while,  darling  (passing  her 
hand  caressingly  over  Janet's  forehead).  Why, 
how  hot  and  feverish  your  forehead  is.  Go  and 
sit  under  the  cedars  till  I'm  ready. 

(Taking  Janet  towards  window;  they 
both  stop;  Janet  hides  her  head  on 
Lady  Eastney's  shoulders;  Lady 
Eastney  takes  her  off  at  door  as  Lal 
enters  at  window.) 

Lal.  I've  broken  my  word.  I've  seen  her. 
I've  asked  her  to  come  over  here  and  see  you. 
You  won't  refuse  to  receive  her? 

Sir  D.     No.     I  wish  to  see  her. 

Lal.     I'll  fetch  her (Going  off.) 

Sir  D.  Stay.  Lal,  this  must  end.  You  must 
give  her  up. 

Lal.  I  can't!  I  won't!  Why  should  I? 
She  was  sinned  against,  not  sinning.  She  was 
ignorant !     She  knew  no  better ! 

Sir  D.  Get  rid  of  that  sorry  cant,  my  lad. 
Every  girl  of  fifteen  knows  black  from  white, 
knows  her  right  hand  from  her  left,  knows  that  if 
she  lets  some  plausible  scoundrel  rob  her  of  her 
jewel,  she'll  by-and-by  come  a  beggared  bride  to  a 
cheated  bridegroom ! 


120  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

Lal.  I  don't  care !  I  love  her !  And  I  shall 
never  be  happy  with  anybody  else. 

Sir  D.  Do  you  think  you'll  be  happy  with  her 
when  the  first  burst  of  passion  is  over  ?  Don't  you 
think  you'll  begin  to  remember  that  she  has  de- 
ceived you,  hoodwinked  you,  that  her  lover  is  now 
living,  that  his  child  is  now  living.  Remember ! 
You  haven't  had  all  her  love !     She  loved  and  gave 

herself  away  before  she  knew  you 

(Lal,  mad  with  resentment,  raises  both 
arms  as  if  he  would  strike  Sir  Dan- 
iel. ) 

Sir  D.  Ah!  that  stabs  you,  does  it?  Don't 
you  think  that  same  thought  will  come  and  stab 
you  continually?  Say  in  a  few  years  some  good- 
looking  friend  comes  along  and  is  civil  to  her. 
She's  civil  to  him.  You'll  begin  to  wonder  how 
far  it  has  gone ;  you'll  remember  that  she  can  de- 
ceive ;  you  won't  be  sure  ;  you'll  question  her ;  she'll 
reassure  you  ;  she'll  swear  and  re-swear  and  swear 
again,  but  you'll  never  be  certain ;  you  may  be 

wronging  her  but she  may  be  wronging  you. 

You'll  never  know.  All  that  you'll  know  is,  "She 
can  lie ;  she  lied  to  me ;  she  lied  to  my  father ;  she 
lied  to  all  of  us ;  she  lied,  and  lied,  and  lied, — is 
she  lying  to  me  now?"  And  you'll  never  know. 
Your  life  will  be  a  very  hell  to  you. 

Lal.  So  be  it !  Hell  with  her,  rather  than 
heaven  with  any  other  woman ! 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  121 

Sir  D.  Nonsense !  Pull  yourself  together ! 
Put   all   your  heart  and    soul    into   your   work. 

You'll  have  an  awful  three  months,  an  awful  six 
months  perhaps.  But  you'll  conquer  yourself. 
You'll  be  a  better  and  stronger  and  braver  man  all 
your  life  for  it.  Love  isn't  the  only  thing  on 
earth.     It  oughtn't  always  to  be  the  first 

Lal.  Ah,  you  can  talk!  You've  never  been 
in  love. 

SirD.     You  think  that  ? 

Lal.  You've  never  loved  a  woman  as  I  love 
her  and  then  had  to  give  her  up. 

Sir  D.  (very  tenderly  and  impressively).  My 
boy,  I  loved  one  woman  when  you  were  a  child — 
ah,  I  did  love  her — you  don't  know  what  love  is, 
if  you  compare  your  hot  boyish  passion  of  a  few 
weeks  with  my  deep  love  of  years — there's  no 
comparing  love.  I  gave  her  up ;  we  gave  each 
other  up ;  it  broke  our  hearts  but  we  did  it — her 
son  doesn't  blush  when  he  remembers  her — you 
and  I  have  stood  by  her  grave  together 

Lal  (startled).     Sir! 

(Looks  at  Sir  Daniel.) 

Sir  D.  Do  you  think  I'd  deny  her  son  any- 
thing? Don't  you  think  I'd  give  all  I  have  in  the 
world  to  make  him  happy  ?  And  when  I  ask  him 
to  renounce  an  unworthy  love,  a  love  that  will  by- 
and-by  bring  him  to  misery — (a  cry  of  anguish 
from  Lal).     You'll  do  it,  Lal!     I'm  not  asking 


122  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

you  to  do  what  I  haven't  done  myself!     You'll 
do  it? 

Lal.     Yes,  sir. 

(A  warm  handshake.      Mrs.  Dane  ap- 
pears at  the  window  with  a  face  of 
despair.     She  is  unseen  by  Lal,  but 
Sir  Daniel  sees  her  and  makes  her  a 
motion;  she  withdraws). 
Sir  D.     Let  me  say  good-bye  for  you. 
Lal.     Mustn't  I  see  her? 
Sir  D.     It  will  be  better  not. 
Lal.     You'll  be  very  kind  to  her?  ' 
Sir  D.     She  shall  find  me  the  truest  and  best  of 
friends  to  her  and  her  child.     Go  into  the  other 
room — Lady  Eastney  is  there.     I  think  she  has 
something  for  you. 

Lal.     Be  very  gentle  to  her 

(Sir  Daniel  reassures  him  with  a  look 
and  a  grasp  of  the  hand.  Exit  Lal  at 
door.) 

Sir  Daniel  goes  to  window.     Mrs.  Dane  enters. 

Sir  D.     What  have  you  heard? 

Mrs.  D.     Enough.     You  mean  to  part  us  then  ? 

Sir  D.     It  is  not  I  who  will  part  you. 

Mrs.  D.     Who  will,  then? 

Sir  D.     Yourself.     You  wish  him  to  be  happy? 

Mrs.  D.     I  have  no  other  wish  in  the  world. 

Sir  D.     I  believe  that  if  you  hold  up  your  fin- 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  123 

ger  and  beckon  him  he  will  come  to  you  from  the 
end  of  the  world  and  marry  you. 

Mrs.  D.  (delighted).     Ah! 

Sir  D.  What  does  that  mean?  He  is  on  the 
threshold  of  a  fine  career;  devoted  to  his  work, 
with  a  large  circle  of  friends.  If  you  become  his 
wife,  will  you  tell  them  your  history?  They  will 
all  fall  away  from  you.  Will  you  hide  it  ?  That's 
impossible.  He  loves  you  now,  but  in  a  few  years' 
time — dare  you  put  his  love  to  such  a  test  ?  Dare 
you  marry  him  knowing  that  day  by  day  he  must 
help  you  deceive  till  disclosure  comes ;  and  then, 
day  by  day,  he  must  endure  social  isolation  with 
you,  disorder  and  failure  in  his  career  for  you — 
dare  you  marry  him?  Will  it  be  for  your  own 
happiness  ? 

Mrs.  D.  My  happiness  !  What  does  that  mat- 
ter ?     Tell  me  what  is  best  for  him  ? 

Sir  D.     Don't  you  know  what  is  best  for  him  ? 

(A  long  pause.) 

Mrs.  D.  So  be  it !  Say  "Good-bye"  to  him 
for  me. 

Enter  Lady  Eastney  at  door,  bringing  cloak  on 
her  arm. 

Lady  E.     I've  something  for  you. 

(Taking  the  paper  from  her  pocket,  and 
giving  it  to  Mrs.  Daxe.) 


124  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  rv 

Mrs.  D.  (takes  the  paper,  reads  it,  smiles  very 
bitterly).     Thank  you. 

Lady  E.     What  have  you  decided  to  do? 

Mrs.  D.  I'm  going  to  Devonshire  to-morrow. 
I  shall  make  a  long  stay  there.  I  sha'n't  let  him 
know  where  I  am.     How  is  he  now? 

Lady  E.  He's  quieter.  I've  persuaded  him  to 
take  a  mouthful  of  food  and  some  wine.  I  put  a 
strong  sleeping  powder  in  the  wine,  so  he'll  sleep 
to-night,  poor  fellow. 

Mrs.  D.  He'll  sleep  to-night,  poor  fellow. 
Tell  him  about  my  going  away  when  you  think  he 
can  bear  it.  I  needn't  stay,  need  I  ?  Thank  you 
for  this — (referring  to  paper)  but  what's  the  use 
of  it? 

Lady  E.  Mrs.  Bulsom-Porter  daren't  attack 
your  reputation  now. 

Mrs.  D.  Reputation?  Reputation  isn't  much, 
is  it,  when  love  has  gone.  Don't  think  I'm  un- 
grateful to  you — (tearing  it)  but  I  sha'n't  trouble 
to  defend  my  reputation.  Good-bye,  Sir  Daniel. 
Don't  you  think  the  world  is  very  hard  on  a 
woman  ? 

Sir  D.  It  isn't  the  world  that's  hard.  It  isn't 
men  and  women.  Am  I  hard  ?  Call  on  me  at  any 
time,  and  you  shall  find  me  the  truest  friend  to  you 
and  yours.  Is  Lady  Eastney  hard?  She  has 
been  fighting  all  the  week  to  save  you. 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  125 

Mrs.  D.  Then  who  is  it,  what  is  it,  drives  me 
out? 

Sir  D.  The  law,  the  hard  law  that  we  didn't 
make,  that  we  would  break  if  we  could,  for  we  are 
all  sinners  at  heart — the  law  that  is  above  us  all, 
made  for  us  all,  that  we  can't  escape  from,  that 
we  must  keep  or  perish. 

Mrs.  D.  Won't  it  do  if  we  pretend  to  keep  it, 
and  force  our  neighbours  to  keep  it  instead  ? 

Sir  D.     Even  that  shows  that  we  own  the  law. 

Mrs.  D.  Only  we  mustn't  get  found  out.  I'm 
afraid  I've  broken  that  part  of  the  law.  Good- 
bye, Sir  Daniel. 

Sir  D.     I'll  see  you  across  to  your  home. 

Mrs.  D.  No,  I'd  rather  you  didn't.  Just  put 
me  outside  your  palings  and  then  I'll  find  my  way. 
Good-bye,  Lady  Eastney. 

Lady  E.  Good-bye  (shaking  hands  warmly). 
Write  to  me.  Tell  me  how  you  are.  Will  you? 
I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear. 

Mrs.  D.  If  ever  I  come  here  again,  will  you 
receive  me  ? 

Lady  E.  (after  a  pause).  If  you  call,  I  shall 
be  at  home. 

Mrs.  D.  God  bless  you !  Now  Sir  Daniel  you 
shall  see  me  outside  the  palings — no  further. 

(Sir  Daniel  picks  up  his  summer  hat 
which  is  lying  on  chair  at  back.) 

Mrs.  D.     I  shall  see  my  child  to-morrow. 


126  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  act  iv 

(Exit  at  window  followed  by  Sir  Daniel. 
Lady  Eastney  goes  up  to  window. 
Enter  Lal  at  door  looking  very  much 
quieter  but  rather  bczi'ildercd  as  if 
under  the  influence  of  a  sleeping 
draught.) 
Lal.  Well  ? 
Lady  E.     How  tired  you  look  ! 

(Takes  him  to  sofa.) 
Lal.     Well?     (Sits  on  sofa.)     I  shall  get  over 
this  you  know. 

Lady  E.     I'm  sure  you  will. 

Lal.     Father  is  right.     I  shall  go  out  to  Sir 

Robert  and  get  on  with  this  railway and  then 

1 

(He  shows  symptoms  of  sleepiness. 
Lady  Eastney  zcatches  him  a  mo- 
ment and  then  goes  to  window.  He 
lies  on  sofa,  a  distant  church  clock 
chimes,  and  strikes  eleven.  Sir  Dan- 
iel re -enters  at  window,  and  they 
come  to  Lal.  They  stand  watching 
him.) 
Sir  D.  We'll  take  him  off  to  Egypt— you'll 
come  and  bring  Janet? 

Lady  E.  (nods).  It's  getting  late.  Where  is 
Janet?  (Calls  indoors.)  Janet!  Janet!  Janet! 
I  suppose  she  has  gone,  poor  child.  Will  you  take 
me  home  ? 


act  iv  MRS.  DANE'S  DEFENCE  127 

Sir  D.     Say  that  in  a  little  while  I  shall  not 
have  to  take  you  home. 

Lady  E.     I  think  I  could  feel  at  home  with  you. 
Sir  D.     Say  that  you  are  at  home  now. 
Lady  E.     (Takes  his  arm.)     I  am  at  home 
now. 

(Sir  Daniel  turns  off  the  electric  light. 
Exeunt  at  ivindow.  A  little  pause. 
Janet  enters  at  door,  comes  up  to  Lal 
who  is  lying  on  the  sofa  in  the  moon- 
light; she  looks  at  him,  bends  over  him 
and  kisses  him.  Curtain  falls  as  she 
goes  off  at  window.) 


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